EPL: Bruce’s huge pay-off details revealed by Newcastle
Director Amanda Staveley and the Public Investment Fund paymasters cleared the managerial decks at 10.30am, after Steve Bruce had managed his 1,000th game as boss on Sunday
Steve Bruce will receive an £8million pay-out after being sacked as Newcastle boss – and admits it could be his final job in football.
Two weeks after the £305m Saudi funded takeover the veteran coach was relieved of his duties on Wednesday morning.
Director Amanda Staveley and the Public Investment Fund paymasters cleared the managerial decks at 10.30am, after Bruce had managed his 1,000th game as boss on Sunday – the 3-2 defeat to Spurs.
Fans had been demanding Bruce leave for weeks, to give the club a fresh start.
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The race is now on for the new owners to find a new boss with Paolo Fonseca the current bookies’ favourite and Lucien Favre and Eddie Howe next.
The new owners have stated they want to get the club to the Champions League and challenge for the title in 5-10 years and will need a top-quality appointment to set them on the way.
Bruce will leave with a massive pay-off, reported to be £8m after suffering 41 defeats in 97 games in charge. Bruce said last week: “I think this might be my last job.”
The former Sunderland boss steadied the ship after Rafa Benitez refused to extend his contract in June 2019.
He was thanked by Staveley last week for twice keeping the club in the Premier League allowing the takeover to eventually go through.
The new owners faced a dilemma after briefings from close to the consortium that Bruce would be sacked last, leaving the United boss seething.
He still had to take training and prepare his squad for the Spurs game with his players suspecting he was on the way out.
On Friday he insisted he wanted the job long term and should be given a chance, but the shambolic performance on Sunday was the final straw.
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Newcastle finished 13th and 12th after he took over from Rafa Benitez in July 2019, reaching the quarter-final stage in both the Emirates FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his tenure.
Steve Bruce said: “I am grateful to everyone connected with Newcastle United for the opportunity to manage this unique football club.
“I would like to thank my coaching team, the players and the support staff in particular for all their hard work. There have been highs and lows, but they have given everything even in difficult moments and should be proud of their efforts.
“This is a club with incredible support, and I hope the new owners can take it forward to where we all want it to be. I wish everyone the very best of luck for the rest of this season and beyond.”
Graeme Jones will lead the team on an interim basis, starting with Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, and will be supported by the coaching team of Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence, Ben Dawson and Simon Smith.