Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United sack pleas as calls for chop grow stronger

Steve Bruce has pleaded with Newcastle United’s new owners to give him ‘time’ and show ‘patience’ as the club’s Premier League woes continue.

The Magpies are yet to win any of their opening nine games of the season, eight of which have come in the Premier League.

And while the atmosphere at St James’ Park was largely positive, on a day of celebration following the PIF-led takeover of the football club, chants for Bruce to be sacked will have been heard loud and clear, particularly by non-executive chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

“I’ve got to wait, until they see fit,” said Bruce, when asked whether he expected any further talks with the club’s new owners.

“You need to ask somebody else that one.”

He continued: “Look, the owners have been very respectful in the last week to 10 days. It is going to take time and patience, of course. But to have the supporters back on side is a positive.”

Nineteenth in the table, having conceded the most goals in the top flight, United find themselves in yet more relegation conversations.

Bruce does, however, back his side to rid themselves of any drop woes this campaign.

“Have we not been in that for the last five or six years? I would think so,” he said.

“We have finished 12th and 13th - I found that very respectable, for where we are at this moment. I am convinced we would win a relegation battle. But when you are in the bottom half, people will say you’re in a relegation battle, yes.”