The new owners are making changes quickly
Newcastle United are set to sack Steve Bruce this week, with assistant manager Graeme Jones expected to be in charge for the game against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
According to the Daily Mirror, the new Saudi owners, who completed a £300 million takeover last week, aren’t prepared to give Bruce a chance to prove himself and he will be removed from his position.
It’s not likely that there will be a quick replacement either, with Jones expected to take charge for the next few weeks while the club search for a permanent manager.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the new regime want a new manager to lead the club into this new era, with Newcastle fans voicing their anger at Bruce’s style of play and poor results, and the Magpies one of four teams yet to win a league game this season, sitting 19th in the table.
Following the big-money takeover, ambitions at St James’ Park have changed with the view to making Newcastle a side capable of challenging for trophies at the highest level on a regular basis.
But due to the club’s poor start to the season, they will look to appoint a coach with proven Premier League experience to help guide them away from a relegation fight.
Amanda Staveley, who holds a 10% stake in the club, is expected to speak to Bruce this week but there is not yet a clear favourite to succeed him in the dugout.
Names such as Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter have been linked with the role, while Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane have also previously been mentioned. Belgium boss Roberto Martinez is also in the mix.
Bruce’s sacking will cost the club compensation, with a figure of £8 million reported, however with a war chest of funds available, that should be light change for the new owners.
