A few Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media after Steve Bruce told Sky Sports that he did not ask Mike Ashley what his job title would be, before agreeing to succeed Rafa Benitez at St. James’ Park.
Bruce was announced as Benitez’s replacement on July 17 and signed an initial three-year deal to return the North East and take charge of the club he supported as a kid, but did not seek clarification over whether he will be a head coach or a manager.
The boss has claimed that he did not ask for his job title during discussions with Ashley as he knew his neck would be on the line either way, and was appointed as a head coach rather than as a manager like Benitez had been.
Being a head coach rather than a manager takes away some of the responsibilities of the job, which now fall on Managing Director Lee Charnley and the board to manage, but Bruce is not too concerned about that.
“Nothing surprises you with what falls on your desk,” Bruce said. “Some stuff you have to keep in-house, of course, and you have to gain the trust of the players and the rest of the staff.
“Now we’re called ‘head coach’, it’s not supposed to be the case. We have CEOs and I’m sure a lot lands on his [Charnley’s] desk too.
“Whether I’m ‘head coach’ or ‘manager’, it doesn’t bother me at all. What I know is that I’m in charge and it’s my neck on the line if things go wrong. It doesn’t matter what title I’ve got, but all sorts land on your desk.”
Does it matter if Bruce is a head coach or manager?
Yes, absolutely
No, it makes no difference
He shouldn't be in the job
Newcastle have taken 15 points from our 13 Premier League games under Bruce, winning four, losing six and drawing thrice, and have scored 11 goals to the 20 conceded to sit 14th in the table, five points clear of the relegation places.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bruce’s defence on why he did not ask what his job title would be, with a few suggesting the boss made a “ridiculous” mistake…
Fraud
— Jonny (@jonnymchale13) November 27, 2019
Yes it does…to claim otherwise is totally ridiculous. If you really did ‘not’ ask this question then you have not done your due diligence and I would worry what other slack and naive practices you entertain.
— Michael Stanley (@Plasmadreamer) November 27, 2019
Sorry Bruce, but you’re not in charge mate.
— Longstaff Is Mint (@LongstaffIsMint) November 27, 2019
But it does matter when you decided to play for a draw against Aston Villa and Brighton
— Liam ⚫️⚪️ (@LiamNUFC1998) November 27, 2019
I bet it’d bother him if he was head cabbage #nufc
— Mike (@MikeSummersall) November 27, 2019
but it *does* matter whether you can choose the players that ultimately decide your fate
— Dave Conley (@realworld666) November 27, 2019
He didn’t ask because he couldn’t believe his luck. He’s out of his depth #nufc
— Stephen (@BLOOD202) November 27, 2019