Miles Starforth has given fans an update on the discussion about Steve Bruce potentially losing his job at St James’ Park.
A bad few months in terms of results over the winter have left Newcastle United in a very perilous position when it comes to their Premier League survival hopes, as a loss for them and a win for Fulham this weekend could see them fall into the bottom three.
But despite pressure from the supporters to make a change in the dugout to help steer them towards safety, speaking on the latest edition of the Mouth Of The Tyne podcast (21:26), Starforth claims that there is no desire within the club to change things, because things have been getting better since the appointment of Graeme Jones to the backroom staff:
“He’s safe for the minute, all the indications are that there’s no appetite for a managerial change. The roll of the dice, the club’s roll of the dice seems to be Graeme Jones. And I imagine they’ll look at the five games since he’s been in charge and see an improved points return.
“And what we’ve seen since Jones has arrived is a, you know, a more of an identity, a way of playing and some improvement in the performances and a couple of wins. Where we go from here? Good question. But no, no appetite in the conversations I’ve had for a managerial change.”
Will Steve Bruce last the season at NUFC?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Miles Starforth’s comments about Steve Bruce’s future
If Starforth is right that the club are essentially banking on the Graeme Jones factor to see them over the line, then they are playing a really dangerous game. Because whilst things might be looking better in their eyes, the improvement that fellow strugglers Fulham have made should give them a major cause for concern.
Whilst performances might be good, it isn’t leading to results and right now results are what they need more than anything if they are to keep Fulham at arm’s length in the battle to stay up. And that might mean having a more serious change rather than just a small tweak like when they brought Jones in.