Amanda Staveley issues Newcastle United apology after Saudi Arabia meeting

Amanda Staveley has apologised to former Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce after suggesting the 63-year-old did not want to come into work following the takeover in October 2021.

Staveley was in Saudi Arabia last week appearing as a guest speaker at the inaugural Bloomberg Power Players Summit. In one of the questions referring the Public Investment Fund-led takeover, the Ripon financier said: “There needed to be dramatic change because the club had been run in a very different format.

“We had few commercial revenues, we had a team that was aging, a fan base that was angry, and a coach who basically didn’t even want to come to work. We had to inject it with life.”

But Staveley has since apologised to Bruce. In a statement posted on Instagram, she said: "I would like to clarify a comment I made during a recent speaking engagement. While commenting on Newcastle United at the time of the club's change in ownership, I suggested the club had a coach who did not want to come into work.

"This suggestion was not correct; Steve Bruce was always fully committed to his role at the club and always came to work during this period. I would like to make it clear that it was not my intention to question or undermine the professional of Steve, who was always professional throughout my dealings with him and committed to achieving the best for Newcastle United.

"I am happy to clarify my comments and I offer an apology to Steve for my comments, and any unintended consequences."

Bruce remained in charge of Newcastle for their first game of the new ownership, which ended in a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park. A few days later, he parted ways with the club and Eddie Howe was appointed a month later.

The former Manchester United defender was Magpies boss for two full seasons, keeping the club in the Premier League under Mike Ashley.