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.”