Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce reacts on the touchline (Getty Images)
According to Sky Sports, Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce will be offered time until the end of the season to prove himself.
The Mike Ashley owned Magpies are currently in the process of a proposed £300million takeover by a Saudi group consortium led by Amanda Staveley.
The likes of Max Allegri, Mauricio Pochettino and Rafa Benitez have been touted as replacements for Bruce. However, no deal has materialised yet with those involved in the takeover suggesting that the former Manchester United defender should be given time to prove his worth.
Bruce, who took over the reins at St. James Park last summer, has not had the best of seasons so far, with the side struggling at 13th place in the table. Not much seems to have improved for the Magpies since former boss Benitez’s departure.
They were in the exact same position at the end of last season, suggesting that things have remained stagnant despite Bruce’s arrival. Having no prior experience managing top clubs, Bruce’s arrival was not well-received by the Newcastle fans, who considered him as uninspiring.
As soon as he arrived, Bruce made a few new signings in a bid to improve the side’s performance, however, except for a few, the rest have failed to impress. Of these, the most notable of such flops has been striker Joelinton, who arrived from German side Hoffenheim.
Despite featuring in all their 29 league matches, the striker has managed to score just one goal, attracting the ire of the club’s supporters. However, Allan Saint-Maximin has impressed and has shown potential.
With Bruce’s signings not making much of a difference, this could turn out to be another reason for the Magpies to offload their boss.
Bruce has not won any major honours in his career, with his best-ever display to date being leading Hull City to the 2014 FA Cup final.
He also helped the Tigers achieve promotion to the Premier League twice during his four-year tenure there from 2012 to 2016. Bruce has previously managed a host of clubs such as Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic, Crystal Palace, and Birmingham City among many others.
Before arriving at St. James’ Park, Bruce was appointed as manager of Aston Villa in October 2016. However, he was sacked in October 2018 after failing to help the side achieve promotion to the Premier League. With Bruce’s resume clearly not up to the mark, it would be better of Newcastle to reconsider their options if the proposed takeover happens.
Bruce’s managerial career reflects that he is not the best when it comes to results. In a result-oriented football world, Bruce’s achievements mean nothing until he takes them back to the top or wins a trophy. Moreover, his inexperience in managing top clubs could be deterrent if Newcastle hope to improve their displays in the coming days.
