Steve Wraith thinks that the decision to keep Steve Bruce in a job at Newcastle United might have something to do with the potential impending takeover.
The Newcastle boss finds himself under pressure after a string of bad results that has seen them pick up just two wins since the start of December in all competitions. To try and help matters, the club brought in coach Graeme Jones to assist with the backroom staff, and all this whilst there is still uncertainty over whether or not the proposed takeover will eventually take place.
And while plenty of Newcastle supporters want Bruce to be dismissed following that run of results, speaking on the latest edition of NUFC Matters, Wraith claims that one reason why owner Mike Ashley might not want to make any changes in the dugout right now is that he wants to leave that decision up to the potential new owners.
Speaking before their latest defeat to Crystal Palace, he said: “I think, really, it’s just Mike Ashley’s way of dealing with the current situation, isn’t it – or Lee Charnley’s way of dealing with it. You know, they clearly don’t want to sack Steve Bruce for whatever reason, whether that’s financial, or whether it’s because they feel a takeover’s imminent and they want to leave that decision to the potentially new owners. But ultimately, they’re dealing with it the way they want to deal with it.”
Are you still positive about the takeover?
Yes, it will happen
No, it was over a long time ago
TIF Thoughts on Steve Wraith’s claim about Steve Bruce’s position and the takeover…
If Wraith’s beliefs are indeed the way that Ashley is thinking, then it could be a very risky move to be making by putting things off until the new owners are potentially in charge.
Whilst Newcastle look to be relatively safe in the table right now, eight points clear of 18th-placed Fulham, as they’ve shown recently, they can go on a long run without getting a result, and if they go through another spell, they could easily be in trouble and end up relegated.
And as noted journalist Lee Ryder has said (Everything is Black and White, via This Is Futbol), Premier League football is pretty vital to the club given the situation in the boardroom. So for the good of the club, and possibly his bank balance should the takeover go through, Ashley should perhaps be more proactive rather than reactive when it comes to Bruce’s future.