‘I remember’ - Sean Dyche trolls Newcastle United supporters with bizarre Steve Bruce claim
Steve Bruce left Newcastle United in October 2021 following the Sadi-backed takeover.
Sean Dyche has admitted he was surprised at Newcastle United supporters turning on Steve Bruce.
In 2019, Rafa Benitez walked away after three-and-a-half years at the Magpies. The Spaniard had become frustrated by a lack of investment under Mike Ashley’s ownership.
Bruce - a former Sunderland manager - arrived as his replacement to trigger widespread fan backlash. Thousands of Newcastle fans boycotted St James’ Park until the Saudi-backed takeover in October 2021.
During his spell, Bruce led the Magpies to two mid-table finishes but proved deeply unpopular with the fan base. PIF ultimately pulled the trigger in their first major decision as owners as Newcastle sat 19th after eight games.
Sean Dyche makes bizarre claim
Speaking to talkSPORT, former Burnley and Everton manager Dyche defended Bruce while reflecting on his time at Newcastle. He said: “I couldn’t work out for the life of me, I remember this as I’m big mates with Brucey… a big fan of his as well.
“At Newcastle, the fans were on him pretty quickly. He’s a local lad, he lived there as a kid. I was surprised and Geordies are pretty fair in my view, when I’ve been there as an away manager. They were on Mike Ashley and it fed his way down to the manager.”
‘He took a job!’ - Sean Dyche
Dyche also dismissed the suggestions that Toon fans failed to take to Bruce due to his Sunderland connections. He added: “No, I’ve never understood it, to be honest. Steve Bruce having a few years, donkeys years ago, at Sunderland, being a Geordie… he took a job.
“He took a job for his own welfare to try and do the best he can do. You’re not telling me he’s going to try less.”