Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce would be “very keen” on taking charge at Newcastle United as a replacement for Rafael Benitez, according to journalist Mark Douglas.
The Chronicle reporter claims on his personal Twitter account that the former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss, who was born and raised in the north east, has close ties to the likes of Newcastle legend Alan Shearer and that the job at St James’ Park is a tempting one for him.
Steve Bruce – whose odds are shortening with bookies – has not managed in Premier League since 2015 and his time at Hull. But succession of high-profile Championship roles since then.
Would be very, very keen on #nufc role & is, of course, close to Alan Shearer and others.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) July 9, 2019
Bruce has only been in charge at Wednesday since February 2019, helping the Owls finish 12th in the Championship after being sacked by Aston Villa late in 2018.
Opinion
It is only natural that with his north east connections Bruce is linked to the Newcastle job. He would be able to call on the advice of Shearer and other individuals with a deep-rooted knowledge of the Magpies, but is it really the sort of appointment which is going to take the club where they should be aiming for? He looks settled in the Championship and many would see it as a serious step back for Newcastle after having Benitez in the dugout. He might be experienced in the Premier League, with nearly 400 games as a manager, but he has picked up an average of just over a point-per-game – hardly an inspiring record for Newcastle. Having been linked with some progressive and forward-thinking names since Benitez’s departure, Bruce hardly falls into the same category. He represents the old-school of management and while there might be some sense in appointing an experienced head, has the division moved on from Bruce and his contemporaries?
