OPINION
From day one when it was officially announced that Steve Bruce would be replacing Rafael Benitez as Newcastle United head coach there has been a strong ‘Bruce Out’ brigade. That’s what happens when you follow someone who is effectively a demigod on Tyneside.
Those calls haven’t decreased as the season has worn on. In fact, they have only intensified. After last weekend’s 5-0 humiliation at Leicester City, they are becoming deafening.
It seems that the majority of Magpies supporters want the born Geordie out of his dream managerial post. Unfortunately, they will all be left feeling gutted at the latest report on the chances of that happening.
The Shields Gazette claimed on Sunday that owner Mike Ashley remains supportive of the Toon boss. Bruce, meanwhile, revealed he had held a positive meeting with managing director Lee Charnley in mid-week.
The message from the power brokers at St James’ Park is clear, then. Bruce is their man. It certainly appears that there is little hope of him losing his position at any point in the near future.
That’s dispiriting news for Newcastle fans looking at the Premier League table at the moment. After seven games Bruce’s men are second bottom, with only winless Watford keeping them off the foot of the top flight.
Their four goals scored is the joint worst in the division, as Bruce has seemingly managed to suck even more creativity out of an already offensively challenged team. It’s early days, of course, but things aren’t looking good for the former Sheffield Wednesday chief.
Despite that, Ashley is firmly in his corner, and that’s the problem for the Newcastle fans who want Bruce out. The Sports Direct tycoon will be reluctant to show he made a mistake with Benitez’s successor, and so he will give Bruce every chance to right the ship.
With that said, the Magpies faithful should buckle in and prepare themselves for many more months of Bruce at the helm, whether they like it or not.
