Steve Bruce lashed out at a suspected mole in the Newcastle United camp ahead of his side’s relegation six-pointer against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
The Magpies go into the weekend in 17th place, just three points above the drop zone, albeit with a game in hand.
That is just one of Bruce’s many mounting concerns after he admitted to having a training ground row with Matt Ritchie. After the 1-1 draw with Wolves at St James’ Park, the manager had appeared to blame Ritchie for the visitors’ equaliser, suggesting he had not delivered tactical instructions to his teammates quickly enough after coming on as a substitute.
According to the Daily Mail, that led the winger to call him a “coward”, adding: “You’ve done f**k all for me.” Bruce was said to have barged the player in response.
Exactly how that exchange became public knowledge has infuriated Bruce, who hit out at “wonderful journalism” in his press conference and promised to find the culprit who had leaked the story to the press.
“There is a source feeding stuff,” he said. When asked whether he suspected someone within the Newcastle set-up, he added: “It has to be. That is the biggest disappointment that it, unfortunately, happens too often. We will try to look to see who it is.”
“I tried to be truthful given the events, the way I saw it,” he said of the interview in which he had criticised Ritchie. “Straight after the game when you’ve conceded the way we do… yes I could have been better in the post-match interview. I accept that…
“There is no denying I had a row with Matt Ritchie. That happens at training grounds up and down the country.
“Unfortunately it gets blown out of proportion. Matt apologised and it’s over. It happens, but ours leaks into the media and causes a frenzy and with a big game coming up. The very following day he trained well and apologised in front of the staff and the players.”
If the 60-year-old felt the need to go on the defence, then it is unsurprising after rumours had emerged suggesting he himself had leaked team news to the media.
News of Martin Dubravka’s recall in place of Karl Darlow against Wolves was broken two days before Darlow was told he was being dropped, but Bruce slammed stories that he had provided the exclusive as “totally disgusting”.
“If I thought I would do that, I would resign tomorrow, you know. It’s simply not true. It’s not fair on Karl, and, arguably, over the past 18 months, that’s been the most difficult decision I’ve had to make.”
Even without an off-field crisis, Newcastle find themselves up against it as they head to the Midlands following confirmation that both Miguel Almiron (knee ligament damage) and Allan Saint-Maximin (groin tear) will miss the next six weeks.
That could be a hammer blow to the club’s hopes of staying in the Premier League, with only Callum Wilson and Joelinton having contributed more goals this season.
Wilson is also expected to miss out against West Brom, though he has begun light jogging again. Fede Fernandez will return to the squad, but Isaac Hayden and Emil Krafth are unlikely to play any part. Fabian Schär is continuing his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.
So significant is the board’s concern about the injuries to Almiron and Saint-Maximin that The Telegraph reported earlier this week that takeover talks have been put on hold as a result. The board need confirmation of what division Newcastle will be playing in next season before agreeing to a sale.
The club have now received a further setback in their hopes of selling to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers. The High Court has refused Newcastle’s application to remove the Chairman of the Arbitration Panel who is overseeing their appeal against last summer’s judgment to block the takeover.
Newcastle said in a statement they had accused the chairman of “apparent bias” and added that they would “continue to actively pursue its claim in the arbitration and calls on the [English Premier League] to resolve the matter in a speedy and transparent way that does not prevent the substantial investment into English football, and the North East region, that the proposed takeover would bring”.
There is no sign of change, no saplings of hope for what is set to be a torrid run-in between now and May. Worst of all, nobody is even surprised.
In spite of the increasing pressure on Bruce, Mike Ashley is sticking by his man – not least because it will cost millions to axe him at this stage of his contract.
Bruce then, is not going anywhere, but his attacks on the press, and on his own players, have done little to mask Newcastle’s slip into disarray.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/38fkGy5
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