Steve Bruce would love to be Magpies boss
Mar 28 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
HIS chairman at Wigan Dave Whelan may like to think he is not interested in the Newcastle United job, but Steve Bruce would love the chance to manage the club he once supported.
Whelan launched an extraordinary attack on Newcastle owner Mike Ashley this week as their relationship, already soured by years of bitter competition in business, took another nosedive.
As well as claiming Ashley ? whose Sports Direct sport store is the main competitor to Whelan?s JJB Sports chain ? had dragged Newcastle down with the way he runs the club and his lack of respect for normal boardroom behaviour, Whelan also insisted that Bruce would turn down the chance to manage Newcastle as long as he remained in charge.
However, The Journal understands that is not the case. Bruce has privately shown an interest in taking the United job on more than one occasion this season, most notably when Kevin Keegan walked out on the club back in September.He has also told friends he would like to take the job if present manager Joe Kinnear decides he does not want to stay beyond the end of this season following his triple heart bypass operation.That has made the Corbridge-born former Manchester United defender the obvious candidate to replace Kinnear, should the 62-year-old ? who has still not signed the two-year contract he was offered before Christmas ? decide not to take on the responsibility long-term.
A source close to Bruce said: ?It is a job that interests him and he hasn?t tried to hide that from Newcastle either. They know how he feels. He is from the North East and it would be like coming home for him.
?He?s done an excellent job at Wigan and enjoys working there, but Newcastle are a much bigger club and it is a challenge he would like to take on in the future. I think even Dave Whelan realises that.?
Although Bruce, who would even consider taking the job if Newcastle were relegated, was far from popular with United fans during his illustrious playing career at Old Trafford, he would be a popular choice as manager as a result of the excellent work he has done at Wigan.The Latics, despite crowds of under 20,000 for most home games, are seventh in the Premier League, which would be enough for them to qualify for the Uefa Cup ? renamed the Europa League from next season ? if they can hold on to that position between now and the end of May.
Interestingly, given his excellent form at Wigan, Bruce may also look to bring centre-back Titus Bramble back to Tyneside with him in the summer.Despite a difficult four years at St James?s Park where high-profile mistakes shattered his self-belief, Bramble has been a revelation at Wigan and has even been mentioned as a possible England international.
Significantly, although Bramble had a fractious relationship with United fans for much of his time at St James?s Park, the 27-year-old would return to his former club if Bruce moved to the North East.
Speaking earlier this week, Bruce said: ?When you analyse Titus, I think he was probably too young getting a big move to Newcastle. If he went to Newcastle now for £5.5m he would probably be equipped to do it.?
http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/03/28/steve-bruce-would-love-to-be-magpies-boss-61634-23251149/2/Hvis dette stemmer bør Ashley se sin mulighet. Burce er noe av det beste vi kan få nå tror jeg og har gjort en strålene jobb med Wigan.