Steve Bruce seems to have taken matters into his own hands as he homes in on the job at Newcastle.
The Yorkshire Post reported that Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri wasn’t prepared to let Bruce leave without exacting what he saw as the compensation his club was due – a figure said to be £4million.
That left Bruce in limbo. “For me, at this particular moment, there is nothing really to talk about until the two clubs reach some sort of compromise,” Bruce had said on Saturday.
However, according to the Times journalist Paul Joyce that position has shifted dramatically on Monday morning as he claimed, “Steve Bruce is understood to have resigned as Sheffield Wednesday manager this morning, along with assistants Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence.”
He added that Newcastle have made an offer of compensation that has not been accepted by the Sheffield club.
Steve Bruce is understood to have resigned as Sheffield Wednesday manager this morning, along with assistants Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence. All three put resignations in writing. Newcastle have made an offer of compensation to Sheffield Wed – but it is still to be accepted.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) July 15, 2019
Newcastle fans – who weren’t happy with Bruce taking over anyway – are not impressed with this latest move.
Here’s a sample of what they’re saying on Twitter to the news:
Sorry but for Bruce to resign tells you everything you need to know about the man, to stick two fingers up at a club that bent over backwards to accommodate you is a proper kick in the teeth to SWFC and their supporters. Good luck to SWFC #nufc
— Mickb62 (@MichaelBelfon) July 15, 2019
As one Newcastle fan pointed out, Sheffield Wednesday had “bent over backwards to accommodate” Bruce when they gave him permission to start late due to health concerns – something Bruce had been criticised for by Match of the Day pundits Danny Murphy and Ruud Gullit.
Bruce only agreed to join Sheffield Wednesday in January 2019.
https://twitter.com/SPFC_2014/status/1150735684145209347
Another fan pointed out that he was showing all the attributes to be an Ashley “yes man”. You can understand the frustration of the fans but anyone that takes the Newcastle job this summer will be tarred with the same brush. While Ashley is the owner he will want a manager who is willing to play by his rules.
This means that we're paying #swfc millions, instead of Rafa Benitez. Money that could be spent on the academy and the beginning of a reborn #NUFC But that's not how FCB like to spend his money! We will probably sign a player for free, because the loney went to Bruce.#AshleyOut https://t.co/wWRNQUxdCO
— Newcastle?Partizani (@NPartizani) July 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/KR3502/status/1150731462817308673
I feel for #swfc fans, Bruce should have been loyal. He is doing exactly as Ashley wants by resigning, meaning fat boy doesnt have to pay compensation now. If Ashley really wanted him he'd surely pay for him, now he's just the cheap option. It stinks of desperation by Bruce #nufc
— Matty Saunders (@MattySaunders11) July 15, 2019
Another fan said he was embarrassed to have Mike Ashley as an owner but said that Steve Bruce had painted himself into the same corner by resigning. He called it “shameful and saddening” and said that Sheffield Wednesday should dig in and get what they deserve for Bruce.
Why does Steve Bruce have a reputation for being a “top bloke”? The man has show no loyalty in the past and has just shown complete desrespect to #SheffieldWednesday by resigning because he couldn’t get his own way. No wonder Mike Ashley wants him, the perfect fit #NUFC
— Robbo (@Mark14Robinson) July 15, 2019
Steve Bruce has resigned at a club that treated him so well, less than a year ago. Him and Mike Ashley are made for each other at Sports Direct FC. Feel sorry for #SWFC and it's fans. #NUFC
— Scott Daley (@ScottDaley26) July 15, 2019
On behalf of all decent supporters can I apologise to #swfc supporters for our obscene pursuit of Steve Bruce. #nufc
— Kev Bolton (@kevbolton3) July 15, 2019
Steve Bruce will be walking into a firestorm now at Newcastle. There’s a real feeling of solidarity between Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle fans, and Bruce will have to work a miracle to win the supporters over at St James’ Park.
Bruce hasn’t worried too much about fans before, taking the Sunderland job as a self-confessed Newcastle fan, moving to Aston Villa after six years at Birmingham and now agreeing to work with Mike Ashley.
If he does end up taking the Newcastle job, we wouldn’t like to be in his shoes for the first game of the season against Arsenal.