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News
Graeme Souness names the manager he wants to see at Newcastle United post-takeover
With Newcastle United on the verge of getting new owners, Graeme Souness has told that he would like to see Steve Bruce given a chance with the Magpies.
Newcastle are in the final stages of a takeover bid, with the club now very close to being bought off Mike Ashley, as was reported by last Wednesday.
PCP Capital Partners, headed by Amanda Staveley, have brokered the £300million deal which is being backed by the Saudi Arabian royal family’s Public Investment Fund.
Ashley and PCP have entered into a binding agreement, with terms agreed and a deposit paid, and documentation has been sent to the Premier League.
Newcastle’s prospective new owners are expected to have major ambitions upon arriving at St. James’ Park, and it could mean an uncertain future for Bruce.
While Souness’ personal preference is to see Bruce given a chance, drawing on his own experience in the Newcastle dugout, he acknowledges that new owners could mean new personnel right across the football club.
“I think if the takeover does happen, I think Steve Bruce should be [manager],” Souness told . “I think they should give him a crack as he’s done a fantastic job up there with limited resources under pressure all the time.
“I’ve been in that job and it’s difficult. I think he’s performed really well, but as is the way in football, new people coming in will want their own men and that will be right across the football club.
“They’ll want to do things differently, and I would imagine they’ll be wanting someone who’s deemed to be a sexier name, a bigger name. Someone who’s maybe done a bit more in the game. That doesn’t guarantee them success.”
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Newcastle fans have had to put up with many prior stories of protracted takeover talks over the years but the latest reports suggest that one is now closer than ever.
The Saudi group is reported to have assets of more than $320billion, so there is certainly plenty to get excited about.
While Bruce wasn’t exactly many fans’ preferred option to replace Rafael Benitez – to put it mildly – he hasn’t done too badly with the resources at his disposal.
As Souness said, however, new owners could want to do things differently and bring in their own staff, with a new manager potentially heralding the start of a new era – out with the old and in with the new.
has reported that Newcastle will not look to make an immediate managerial change should the deal go through, and give Bruce until at least the end of the season.