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Alan Shearer exposes Steve Bruce being less than truthful about Mike Ashley

5 years ago
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For the vast number of Newcastle fans who see Steve Bruce as a joke appointment, it does confuse things when somebody like Alan Shearer speaks so highly of him.

The Newcastle and England legend has never worked at a football club with the new NUFC Head Coach but is long time friends with him and speaks highly of his character.

Obviously a lot has been said since Bruce was announced last Wednesday but I just wanted to zero in on what the two friends have said since…

Steve Bruce after meeting Mike Ashley on  Wednesday:

“It is always key to have a good relationship with the people above.

“I don’t know what has gone before.

“So far he (Mike Ashley) has been as straight as a die.

“I think it is always key to have a positive relationship…you need to get on with the people you work with.

“I asked him a few questions and I have got a few straight answers.”

In particular, look at that line where Steve Bruce says ‘I don’t know what has gone before.’

I have found it difficult to believe a lot of what Steve Bruce has said since his appointment, especially his assertion that he has ‘control of transfers’ and that he has been actively involve in NUFC deciding to buy Joelinton, a deal set up months before he (Steve Bruce) was appointed.

However, on the point where Steve Bruce claims ‘I don’t know what has gone before’, just read what Alan Shearer had to say after Bruce was announced as now working for Mike Ashley…

Alan Shearer speaking about Steve Bruce taking  the job – 18 July 2019:

‘I was out for dinner with Steve Bruce three weeks ago. It was just after Rafa Benitez had left Newcastle and we spoke about what he should do if he was approached and offered the job.

My advice to him that night was simple: “No, no, no, don’t take it.”

I said: “Why are you going to be any different to Keegan or Benitez? If you take it, you must be mad because you know how it works there.”

But Steve is his own man and I respect that. I can’t tell him what to do, even though he is a good friend of mine.

He was not Newcastle’s first choice to replace Rafa. He might not even have been their second, third or fourth pick. It looks more like he could have been the last man standing…

But Steve can have no excuses at all if it goes wrong because he knows exactly what he is taking on.

He knows how the football club is run, it is not a secret any more.

This is without a doubt the toughest and most toxic situation Steve has ever walked into.

No job is impossible but this one is very, very difficult for so many different reasons.

He’ll do a good job just to keep Newcastle up this season.

If Steve starts well and gets some good results, he might calm a few fans down. But one thing they are not going to forget about is their issues with the owner.

Under Rafa, they finally had a little bit of hope. They had a manager who had been hugely successful and wasn’t afraid to say how it was — but he was allowed to walk away for nothing.

But while he has worked under some difficult owners in his previous jobs, I doubt he has had any like this before.

He also knows what has gone on with me at the club in the past, so at least he won’t be asking me to join him!

He is very hard-working and a genuine, honest guy, who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is a brilliant man-­manager and is always very popular with players.

I like him a lot and I actually admire him for having the balls to take the job on. But I just really hope that he doesn’t live to regret it like I fear he will.’

As Alan Shearer says ‘My advice to him that night was simple: “No, no, no, don’t take it. I said: “Why are you going to be any different to Keegan or Benitez? If you take it, you must be mad because you know how it works there.”…Steve can have no excuses at all if it goes wrong because he knows exactly what he is taking on. He knows how the football club is run, it is not a secret any more.’

Steve Bruce can say what he wants but he knows exactly how Newcastle United works under Mike Ashley and he knows exactly how disgracefully he has treated the likes of Kevin Keegan, Rafa Benitez…and indeed Alan Shearer himself.

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