Sam Allardyce believes Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce would jump at the chance to manage Newcastle United.
Sky Sports previously reported that the Championship boss was one of the names being considered to succeed Rafa Benitez at St James Park, and Alan Brazil asked Allardyce what he thought about Bruce potentially managing the Magpies.
The former Magpies manager claimed Sheffield Wednesday fans should be worried about their team losing their manager as he thinks Bruce would jump at the chance to succeed Benitez if his current club doesn’t stand in his way.
“Well they should be worried as he is a Geordie boy and if he gets the chance to go to Newcastle and Sheffield Wednesday don’t stop him, I think he will jump at the chance,” said Allardyce on talkSPORT (6:25am, Thursday, July 11th).
“I think he should, I think it’s been one of your dreams to manager his hometown club.”
OPINION
While the Newcastle United job may not appeal to some, Allardyce is probably right to suggest Bruce would love to pick up the reins. After all, this is probably one of the best opportunities he could have possibly dreamt of coming his way. Not only was Bruce born in Newcastle, so likely has a personal connection to the club, but it’s quite a turn up for the books that a Premier League side are keen on him. The 58-year-old hasn’t managed in England’s top-flight since 2015 after overseeing Hull City get relegated, and he seems to now be known as a manager suited to the Championship. Bruce’s record in the Championship in recent seasons is impressive after all. The 58-year-old averaged 1.60 points per match across the 102 games he was in charge of Aston Villa, and has so far averaged 1.61 points during his brief stint in charge of the Owls (Source: Transfermarkt). However, the problems is the Magpies aren’t in England’s second-tier, nor are they aiming to be.
