Steve Bruce admits that he is growing tired of reading “disrespectful” stories about his future at Newcastle United, per The Daily Telegraph.
The Magpies are in the midst of a potential takeover, with the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund striking a £300 million deal with Mike Ashley to purchase the club.
The deal is awaiting ratification from the Premier League and there have been reports that the new owners could appoint a new manager.
The report states that Mauricio Pochettino and Rafael Benitez have both been linked with the hotseat.
And Bruce says he is frustrated by the reports casting doubt on his future.
He said: “Well, some of it has been disrespectful, of course.
“But I’ve been in the job long enough, I’ve been here for the best part of 12 months, and the one thing you need here, more than anything, is a thick skin.
“You just have to let it ride, unfortunately, and try to ride the storm. It’s never easy, and it becomes unsettling, not for myself, but for other people that are close to me like the staff. With the takeover…I think everybody’s a bit bored with it, aren’t they?
“We’ve heard it all before, and it seems to drag on. The one thing I can’t do is let it be an excuse. We have to just focus on what we’re paid to, and that’s to win a football match on a Sunday or a Wednesday or a Saturday, whenever it is.
“We need to make sure we’ve prepared the players as best we can, and take away that uncertainty and use it if we can a little bit. People have written the team off, and myself, all season. Let’s answer it in the best possible way by finishing the season strongly. Let’s see if we can catch Burnley, who are four points ahead of us [in tenth] at the minute.”
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This is exactly the right response from Bruce and, really, he’s right.
While he may have been appointed by the current ownership, there is nothing saying that he will definitely leave.
He ought to be given the opportunity to work with the new owners, and try to climb up the Premier League table.
Indeed, Bruce has done everything he can to keep the Magpies above the relegation zone.
They are currently 14th, eight points clear of the relegation zone, and are just five points off the mythical 40-point mark that almost certainly guarantees survival.
He has, at the very least, earned the right to take the side forward.