Newcastle considering appointing Steve Bruce as new boss

According to the BBC, Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce is under consideration by Newcastle for the vacant managerial role at the club.

The Magpies are searching for a new boss after the exit of highly-rated Spanish boss Rafa Benitez at the end of his contract on June 30^th. The former Liverpool chief has since moved to Chinese outfit Dalian Yifang.

A number of bosses have been linked with the vacant position. Reportedly, former England and Everton head coach Sam Allardyce has turned down the opportunity to return to the north east club.

Question marks over Steve Bruce

Steve Bruce is seen by many as a solid boss. He is a born and bred Geordie and has never hidden his admiration for his hometown club. The fact that he has already managed arch-rivals Sunderland may not go down well with the Toon Army.

The fact that he has a patchy recent managerial record will be of more concern to the St James Park faithful, though. They could accept the fact that he is an ex-Mackem if he had a good managerial record.

Like any set of fans, they are a fickle bunch. If I was a Newcastle fan, the thought of Steve Bruce’s appointment would not fill me with excitement. In fact, the appointment would sum up the current state of the club.

A complete lack of ambition

The Newcastle fans are praying for the club to be rid of the highly unpopular owner Mike Ashley. The London businessman has let it be known that he wants to sell the club.

Talk of a big money takeover by Middle East billionaires seems to have quietened down. That means the Magpies are stuck with Ashley, whose total ambition for the club is just to remain in the top-flight.

Benitez fulfilled this ambition. However, the Spaniard left the north east club because he wanted to take the club and team forward. That would have meant Ashley actually spend money.

He doesn’t like spending money on new players, which was reportedly the crux of the problem with Benitez. Bosses will still want to take the job, but they will not get another top boss like the Spaniard until the club gets new owners.

Steve Bruce would be an uninspiring appointment. However, it would sum-up the sheer lack of interest and lack of ambition that owner Ashley has shown in the north east club.

Relegation odds shortened

Newcastle fans are worried about their teams’ prospects next season. They have lost Benitez, Spanish forward Ayoze Perez and reports suggest Manchester United are interested in signing highly-rated midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Since Benitez’s exit, Newcastle odds to suffer relegation from the Premier League have shortened to 11/4. The Magpies are still not among the favourites to suffer the drop, but that has a lot to do with the perceived lack of quality of some of the other clubs in the top-flight.

Newcastle fans deserve better than what they are getting and have gone for a long time. The Toon Army are a loyal and passionate bunch, who give their all. They expect their team and club to do the same.

Unfortunately, they are not getting that from the club’s owners. If Steve Bruce becomes the next Newcastle boss, then the fans will no doubt behind him for the sake of the team.

However, it seems like an appointment of desperation, rather than inspiration, which is a real shame because Newcastle has such potential as a football club. It seems that the Magpies will remain just potential, unfilled until somebody ousts Ashley from the club.

Would Steve Bruce be a good appointment for Newcastle?