Newcastle Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder has said that sources in Holland have told him that Giovanni van Bronckhorst “remains keen” on taking the Newcastle job.
Ryder posted the latest update on Newcastle’s hunt for a new manager on Thursday morning on his personal Twitter page.
Sources in Holland are suggesting Giovanni van Bronckhorst remains keen on the #nufc job.
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) July 4, 2019
44-year-old van Bronckhorst was a well-traveled player, taking in stints at Rangers, Arsenal, Barcelona and Feyenoord, the only team he has managed (2015 to 2019).
In his second season with the club, he won the Eredivisie title, Feyenoord’s first in 18 years. He left earlier this year with a win percentage of almost 61% from 176 games.
Not all Newcastle fans are happy with the news, but there are some supporters who won’t be happy with any news coming from the club until Mike Ashley is gone.
This is what the fans are saying:
Anyone now taking the job under Ashley has NIL Credibility!
— Mark500 (@MarkLawson500) July 4, 2019
Our sources indicate that anyone who takes the job is a fraud…
— NUFC (@TOONANDY1986) July 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/ry_hudson91/status/1146757094315646984
This highlights a real issue at the club. Rafa Benitez was a line in the sand for a lot of fans and his exit has left the morale of some supporters at an all-time low.
The inference from these fans is that no manager worth his salt would take a job working for Mike Ashley. That ignores the fact that the Newcastle job, with or without Ashley, is massive.
It also means that any manager who does take the job will have a distance to travel before he gets the support of all of the fanbase.
I think he would be a good appointment, based on Ashley still being owner, if a takeover happens I'd prefer someone else but think he,d do well
— Blaine Murphy (@BlaineMurphy14) July 4, 2019
Would be a smart appointment and the best we could get, despite everything going on would be fantastic in other circumstances
— Dayvee Gee (@DavidJG00615083) July 4, 2019
Not all fans are taking such a nihilistic approach. There are some who think van Bronckhorst would be a “good”/”smart” appointment if the takeover doesn’t go through. There’s still hope among some sections of the fanbase that this will happen this summer. And if it does they want a bigger name.
So just get him in. Charnley is not competent enough to draw up a shortlist. Doesn't matter who it is, we're going down
— Adam (@AdamLittle99) July 4, 2019
He did alright In Holland, in a league where they don't get much funds, smells like a Ashley man to me
— Connor Keegan (@ConnorKeegan20) July 4, 2019
The overriding feeling from the fans is one of helplessness though. And you can’t blame them. One thinks that Newcastle are relegated whoever takes charge under Ashley.
Another spelled out the frustration saying, “They had an expert. They refused to back him. For three years we’ve suspended our disbelief due to Rafa and his sheer professionalism. Now it’s back to Steve McLaren bingo and fake war chests.”
We can understand the depth of feeling but things will only get worse for the club if it loses the fans. Some fans think it has to get worse to get better.