A defiant Steve Bruce has insisted he will fight to keep his job as Newcastle's head coach despite fevered speculation that he will be replaced by the club’s new owners.
The 60-year-old will take charge of his 1,000th game as a professional manager when Tottenham visit St James’ Park on Sunday in the first fixture since Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium completed its £305m takeover.
Speaking after seeing Leicester counterpart Brendan Rodgers, former Magpies boss Rafael Benitez, Rangers' Steven Gerrard and Brighton’s Graham Potter all distance themselves from a potential vacancy on Tyneside after being heavily linked with Bruce’s job, the former Manchester United defender signalled his intention to battle on and dismissed suggestions he was only hanging on for compensation.
He said: "Who wouldn’t want to try? I’m not going to give up the hope of it. Who wouldn’t want this job now going forward, the way it is, the way it looks in the future? Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to manage Newcastle?
"Certainly I would and I’m sure there’s hundreds who’d want to do the same thing. There are exciting times ahead for the club, that’s for sure.
"It's not all about money with me, not at all. I want to be the manager of Newcastle – that’s not going to change."
Bruce has spent much of his time since replacing Benitez at St James' in July 2019 battling his critics, but having fought his way to the top level as a player and survived in management for more than two decades, he is not about to throw in the towel now.
He said: "I'll never give up that, that’s something in me, maybe because of being born and bred here. I wasn’t going down the shipyards, that’s for sure. That’s still in me.
"I played 950-odd as a player. I’ve been involved 43 years on the trot since I was a kid, I’ve won every domestic medal there is a few times over.
"What you cry for is a little bit of respect at times, just a little bit of respect at times and have a bit of dignity about you. No matter how difficult it’s become, that’s what I’ve tried to put in place."
Less than an hour before Bruce, who met Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi on Monday and was told to carry on until he heard different, was due to face the media, the club confirmed he would be in charge against Spurs.
In a statement aimed at dissenting supporters, Staveley said: "We have had an extremely busy week reviewing the business and getting to know people and it is imperative that we continue to be patient and considered in our approach.
"Change does not always happen overnight, it demands time and that we follow a carefully considered plan and strategy.
"We met Steve and the players on Monday and have given them the time and space this week to focus on preparing for what is a very important game on Sunday.
"Steve has been very professional in our dealings with him and he and his coaching team will take the team on Sunday.
"If we make any changes going forward, Steve will be the first to know but, in the meantime, we wish him the best of luck in his 1,000th match as a manager and will be joining you in getting right behind the team.
"Thank you for the warm welcome you have given us. We can’t wait to be at St. James’ Park with you."
Gerrard said he was looking forward to Bruce reaching his 1000th game as a manager as he distanced himself from Newcastle speculation.
While Newcastle, second bottom in the Premier League, get set to play Tottenham on Sunday, Gerrard's Premiership leaders are preparing for the visit of second-placed Hearts on Saturday.
Asked about being linked with the Magpies, the Gers boss, who is waiting on striker Kemar Roofe coming back from international duty with Jamaica, said: "I don’t really react or get involved in any kind of speculation.
"Especially when there is someone who I have the utmost respect for sitting in that job that the speculation is about.
"For me, I am in a very big job here that I am fully focused on and we have a top-of-the-table clash at the weekend and it is a game I am very much looking forward to.
"But I certainly have one eye on Newcastle in terms of Brucie getting his 1000th game, a great character of the game, someone whom I have a personal relationship with and the utmost respect for.
"I am looking forward to seeing him getting his 1000th game, I think it is a massive achievement so congratulations to him at the weekend."
Asked if he had any sympathy for Bruce, the former Liverpool and England captain said: "I think the character that Steve Bruce is, I don't think he would want anyone to have sympathy for him or feel sorry for him.
"I wouldn't like people to be speculating about my job so I certainly won’t be getting involved in speculation towards his.
"I think it is interesting what is happening at Newcastle, if anyone deserves a break it’s the Geordie fans so I am sure the excitement levels are very high down on the Toon.
"And obviously everyone connected with the game is looking in with interest to see how that develops but from a personal point of view I don’t really get involved in speculation and I wish Steve Bruce all the best."
Amnesty International urges Newcastle fans to look at Saudi human rights record
Meanwhile, Gerrard's former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he is happy at Leicester after also being linked with a move to Newcastle.
Rodgers said the speculation could "destabilise" supporters and players and that he wanted to stay at Leicester for as long as the club wanted him.
Asked if the project at Leicester was his only concern, he replied: "100%. I have got a contract until 2025, I absolutely love being here.
"I’m very fortunate. I’ve got a great chief executive and a director of football who I have a close relationship with and a a group of players that I really, really enjoy working with.
"We have an infrastructure here that allows us to look to compete, so as long as they don’t want to move me then I’m very happy being here at the club.
"I’ve seen all the reports around it but of course it doesn’t help anyone, particularly Newcastle and (their current manager) Steve (Bruce).
"It’s the type of week that I don’t like in the modern game.
"Managers and coaches work hard to do the best for our teams and then we have speculation and gossip that goes around and it can destabilise supporters and maybe players, but it doesn’t benefit anyone at all.
"Thankfully I’ve been in the game long enough now to just focus on my job and my role, and I’m very happy to do that."
Rodgers said Bruce’s situation was one every manager could relate to.
"I feel for Steve, it happens to all of us. You get put on death watch by the media and it’s constant. He’s a great football man and he’s got on with his work," he said.
Speculation has also been rife that Rafael Benitez, who led the club for three years between 2016 and 2019, could return.
The Spaniard was publicly critical of former owner Mike Ashley but he insisted he is committed to his current role as Everton boss.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's match against West Ham, Benitez said: "I can tell you that I have a lot of friends and they were asking me the same question. But from day one when I was talking with the board here, they didn’t need to worry about that because I decide to stay here.
"I’m really happy and it’s just trying to improve everything that I can here and focus. I’m wishing them all the best but this time when I decide to stay here I keep my word and I continue working here."
