Loads of Newcastle United fans have been left livid at Steve Bruce’s “dangerous” choice of words to defend the club’s decision to offer free half-season tickets.
United announced earlier in the week that 10,000 half-season tickets were being given away in a bid to fill St. James’ Park, in the wake of recording our lowest home attendance for a Premier League game since November 2010 when 42,303 watched us beat Southampton.
The decision to reward fans that already held a full season ticket was described in a club statement as a move to fill the ground and offer the first-team greater support, following discussions between head coach Bruce and Managing Director Lee Charnley.
Almost all of the 10,000 available tickets had already been snapped up in the space of just 24 hours, with the club having to close online applications due to the overwhelming response they had received.
Bruce has now added his praise to the club for going ahead with the imitative, claiming it rewarded the ‘truly loyal supporters’.
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Speaking on Sky Sports News (11/12/19, 13:02), Bruce said: “It took place very quickly after a conversation with Lee after the game on Sunday: ‘Is there anything we can do?’
“To be fair to the club, they have come up with this idea and it’s fantastic for the truly loyal supporters of the club. It’s a great gesture from the club, also at this particularly hard time.
“We want a full St. James’ Park. I’ve been here as a player and as an opposition manager, and when it’s full and in full voice, it can be a pretty intimidating place. It’s a reward for the truly supporters that we’ve got.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bruce’s comment…
Dangerous language. The truly loyal have boycotted
— Bob (@BerbBerbson) December 11, 2019
How can it be fantastic?If I’d paid £700 for my tickt and the guy next to me was there for nowt I’d be raging.Why not just give the season ticket holders money back, discount next season,free pints etc.Or even better reduce the tickt prices so it’s more affordable for all fans.
— Callum Aitchison (@callumaitchison) December 11, 2019
Just another football mercenary. #snake pic.twitter.com/OTBatak5Kc
— Andy Rivers (@andy_rivs) December 11, 2019
The truly loyal supporters are the ones who have stayed away in order to rid ourselves of the parasite that is Mike Ashley. This game of splitting fans is the clubs attempt in fooling the foolish. It’s so transparent, that it’s unreal. Bruce is being used to split the fans.
— grumpy_old_sod (@AndyHarle1968) December 11, 2019
“Truly loyal” coming from a Geordie who managed the mackems 🙈
— MORPETH MAG72 (@NEILTW) December 11, 2019
Am I missing something here, season ticket holder for 20 yrs, I’ve stayed ‘truly loyal’ this season, how have I personally benefited from this? I’ve paid full price for my ticket every year, now 10k other folk have got a free ticket, where’s my reward??
— Michael Marley (@michaelmarley) December 11, 2019
The truly loyal fans can give themselves a pat on the back for paying full price while people around you get in for nowt for the rest of the season. That noise? That’s the owner laughing at you btw.
— vic bates (@victorbates) December 11, 2019
Let’s hope they stay loyal. Steve is doing s great job but every manager has a shelf life. The toon army can be cruel when it suits them.
— Frank Corr🖤 🇪🇺🇬🇧 #FBPE (@frank_corr) December 11, 2019
So is Bruce saying us fans who’ve boycotted are not truly loyal? Broke my heart to give 4 tickets up this season and ive been going for over 40 years. Yet another kick in the baalls!
— Daveemers (@Daveemers1) December 11, 2019
Don’t like that. Truly loyal.
— Liam Taylor (@27liamdavid) December 11, 2019
Cant believe they didn’t reward the loyal supporters that are paying good money every year ! Let’s give a freebee to the unloyal supporters ! The PR at NUFC as per usual is so poor as it has been for years !!!!!!
— Tony Cornfoot (@Tonyc1234) December 11, 2019
So he’s calling the boycotting fans unloyal
— All Good (@NUFC_GRB) December 11, 2019
In other Newcastle United news, an influential £43k-p/w star is keen to hold clear the air talks to discuss his future at St. James’ Park.