Another week to forget in the life of Newcastle United

Problems on the pitch, off the pitch and in the boardroom continue to mount at a club never far away from crisis

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce (PA)

“It’s a disagreement, what’s wrong with it? I like disagreements. I like people to air their views. It means they care.”

It’s hard to know whether Steve Bruce would agree with that particular Sam Allardyce assessment after another week to forget in charge of Newcastle United.

Allardyce knows the unique challenges of managing the Magpies of course, having done so himself between 2007 and 2008. But it’s unlikely he endured anything quite as difficult as that which Bruce and his beleagured side are currently limping through.

A run of just two wins in 15 Premier League games has seen their season hurtle downwards and ahead of a crucial meeting with Allardyce’s West Brom this weekend they sit just three points above the relegation zone.

Preparations for Sunday’s game have been hampered further by key injuries to Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron and a highly-publicised row with midfielder Matt Ritchie, after Bruce claimed in his post-match press conference last weekend that the substitute had not passed on key instructions seconds before Wolves’ equaliser in a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

All that left Bruce with plenty to answer in his weekly press conference on Friday morning.

“There’s no denying that I’ve had a row with Matt Ritchie, but let me tell you that happens up and down training grounds every other week,” he said.

“You’re dealing with 25 men, emotions run high, fiercely competitive - these things happen unfortunately, and unfortunately for us with Newcastle, of course it gets blown to all sort of proportions.

“Matty apologised, as far as we’re concerned and me personally, it’s over.”

That story and the significant fallout from it has prompted Bruce into an investigation to find out who leaked the details of the row between player and manager to the press.

“It has to be [someone within the club], unfortunately it has to be, so that is the biggest disappointment to us all, and unfortunately it happens a bit too often. We’ll try our utmost to see who it is.”

He also had to strongly hit back at claims that he himself was the source of a story that goalkeeper Karl Darlow would be dropped for the Wolves game.

“If I thought I would do that, I would resign tomorrow. It’s simply not true. It’s unfair on Karl and arguably over the last 18 months that’s been the most difficult decision I’ve had to make.”

Add the lack of form on the pitch and the drama off it to the ongoing saga of the on-off Saudi-backed takeover and Newcastle are the picture of a club in crisis.

For the long-suffering supporters this is sadly nothing new.

Owner Mike Ashley remains in charge, with efforts to replace the chairman of an arbitration panel related to the prospective takeover denied on Friday, while the long wait for silverware - now at 51 years and counting - continues on with precious little sign of abating.

For the fans, Bruce’s fighting talk will do nothing to dissuade the many who see the manager himself as a big part of the problem, albeit part of a much larger one that predates his appointment and the many others before him.

Bruce himself is resolute that he wants to be the man to turn things around.

“Do I feel like walking away? Definitely not. Not at all,” he added. “More than ever, I’m 100 per cent committed to trying to get us out of the trouble we’re in. I think the players are too. I’ve got 100 per cent faith in them, and I think that remains vital to us.

“So, no, just because things get tough... I always knew things would be tough. Maybe it’s tougher than I thought, but I always knew it was going to be tough.

“It’s a tough gig this one, there’s no disputing that. But I’ll try my best, like I always do, to make sure that we’re OK.”

It’ll take all of his efforts. Three points on Sunday would be as big a help as any.