Newcastle United news: Paul Gascoigne backs Steve Bruce appointment and urges fans to ‘get behind’ their new manager
Paul Gascoigne has urged Newcastle United fans to ‘give Steve Bruce a chance’ after the club confirmed the 58-year-old’s appointment as their new manager on Wednesday.
Northumberland-born Bruce left his role at Sheffield Wednesday to return to his native North East, signing a three-year contract at St James Park.
However, the former Sunderland boss’ arrival has not been met with cheers from the Toon Army, many of whom have been underwhelmed by owner Mike Ashley’s choice to succeed their beloved Rafael Benitez.
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Few supporters see Bruce as the right man to take the Magpies forward.
But Gascoigne disagrees and has told the Tyneside faithful to back their new boss.
“For me, Steve Bruce is a great appointment,” Gazza told talkSPORT host Jim White on Wednesday.
“He’s from the North East, he played for Wallsend Boys Club like Alan Shearer, Lee Clark and Steve Watson, all them, you know?
“He’s a great guy and everybody knows he’s a winner, he’s won so many medals, so he knows how to win games and knows how to win championships.
“Obviously the fans are upset and they’re voicing their opinion… but give Steve Bruce a chance.
“They’ve got to give him a chance, they’ve got to. He’s played with the best.”
Gascoigne also insisted plans to boycott the club this season will ‘not achieve anything’.
Many fans have threatened to boycott their club following Benitez’s departure, having failed to agree a new contract with Ashley.
Supporters on social media vowed to give up their season tickets, stop going to games and stop purchasing club merchandise until Ashley sold the club to new investors.
However, Gascoigne told talkSPORT he has heard that all before and says Newcastle’s loyal fanbase will find it almost impossible to stay away, despite their anger and frustration with how their club is being run.
He did, though, send a message to Ashley to back the newly-appointed Bruce with transfer funds this summer, following the departures of a number of key players.
“Fans have been saying they’ll boycott the club for 30 years, but they’ll still turn up,” Gazza added.
“They work all week just to watch the game on a Saturday, they live for that Saturday. All the fans do.
“Boycotting it, that’s not going to change anything, all that’s going to happen is the fans are going to miss out on their team.
“If the fans do boycott it, you’ve got to look at Ashley’s financial situation – he’s mega rich. So whether he is going to be bothered by that or not, that’s a different thing. Boycotting is not going to help the cause whatsoever.
“But, Mike Ashley has got to give the manager money to spend. This can’t go on season after season.
“He has got to spend. He’s gone through a few managers and not given them any money. The main one he gave money to was Benitez and he left!
“Steve Bruce has been around and done well for himself in management, I think it’s a good appointment and they should give him a chance.
“Newcastle fans want succeed and they want it now but it’s going to take some time.”