‘He thought!’ - Simon Jordan tells hilarious Steve Bruce ‘gardening leave’ story Newcastle United supporters will love
Steve Bruce produced hilarious gaffes as Newcastle United manager - but this one from his time at Crystal Palace is a corker.
How’s the bacon, did you say? One of Steve Bruce’s many anecdotes as Newcastle United manager.
The ex-Toon boss was known for the bemusing - who could forget him declaring Dwight Yorke fit ahead of a clash against Arsenal? But former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has perhaps topped the lot with his personal Brucey classic.
Gardening leave has become a hot topic in football during recent seasons. Newcastle were involved in a high-profile case last year when sporting director Dan Ashworth was wrangling for an exit.
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The Magpies and Manchester United tussled in a five-month legal wrangle before an agreement was reached in July. Placing a former manager or director on gardening leave before they jump ship protects the club from having their secrets spilled.
Toon chiefs were understood to be concerned about Ashworth knowing Newcastle’s potential transfer targets and other short-term plans. Rewind almost 25 years and the practice was in its infancy when Bruce - just three months into his reign at Palace - joined Birmingham City.
Jordan, the Eagles owner, was furious and a bitter legal battle ensued. Bruce ultimately joined the Blues after a compensation package had been thrashed out.
Fast forward to the present and Jordan - now on good terms with Bruce - joked about his former manager not being aware of gardening leave. The 64-year-old hilariously thought he needed to get his hedge trimmers out and tidy up Jordan’s backyard.
“I put Steve Bruce on it (gardening leave) and nobody had heard of that terminology,” Jordan told talkSPORT. “I remember years and years, coming on the show and having to listen to Adrian Durham’s drivel about what he thought it was.
“When I explained to him what it was and why a football manager shouldn’t be able to do precisely what he wants, when he wants, the penny dropped with him. The first gardening leave clauses were put in as a result of my Steve Bruce situation.
“I went to court and got an injunction against Bruce to enforce that clause in the contract, to make Birmingham, who thought they could nick him, come to the table and pay proper compensation.
“It had never been done before. With due respect to Steve, I literally think, without wanting to be overly disrespectful, he thought it involved cutting my lawn when I told him he was on gardening leave.”
Simon Jordan fiercely defended Steve Bruce at Newcastle United
Jordan was one of Bruce’s loyal supporters during his turbulent spell at St James’ Park. When advised to leave the Magpies, the now Hull City manager fired back.
“I understand where Simon is coming from, but I never really thought about it (leaving Newcastle) then,” he said. “I never thought just because it’s tough here, I’m going to walk away. I believe with the experience that I’ve got that I can try and help the club.
“A lot of people will find that laughable - I understand. But that’s what I genuinely believe. I hope that my experience can see us through.”