talkSPORT hosts Ally McCoist and Freddie Flintoff have urged Newcastle to stick with Steve Bruce amid talk of former manager Rafael Benitez returning.
A £300million deal to buy the Magpies from unpopular owner Mike Ashley – led by Amanda Staveley and backed by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman – is thought to be on the verge of completion.
Once done, the new owners are expected to lead a complete overhaul of the club, which doesn’t bode well for current boss Bruce.
The 59-year-old has struggled to endear himself to fans after taking over from the much-loved Benitez last summer, despite similar results and performance levels.
Newcastle fans would love nothing more than for the Spaniard to return, while heavily-linked former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino would also be a popular choice.
And according to the Telegraph, Benitez is extremely keen on returning to St James’ Park from Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.
He’s even drawn up a transfer shortlist with includes Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley and Man City defender John Stones, the report claims.
However, Rangers legend McCoist and England cricket hero Flintoff believe Bruce has earned the backing of the new owners.
Flintoff said: “You can’t be doing this to Steve Bruce! He’ll be there this morning, folding his tracksuit up, thinking, ‘Is this another one for the memory box?’
“Stick with Steve, we’ve got to get this trending.”
McCoist added: “I’m with Freddie, #StickWithSteve!”
Meanwhile, former Spurs and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood recently argued Bruce is a victim of a ‘fashionable’ trend which sees foreign managers preferred over Brits.
“Bruce has done a good job,” Sherwood told the Breakfast Show on talkSPORT.
“No-one up there wanted him but he’s strung some results together, pulled them in a position of safety and has done a fantastic job.
“He’s done just as good as job as Benitez did when he was up there.
“The Newcastle fans – they laud Rafa and what sort of job did he do? It is fashionable and sexy to have a foreign manager and Rafa was sexy to them.”
Flintoff has always had a soft spot for Bruce after the Magpies boss once bailed him out of paying a large bill at a pricey restaurant in Dubai.
You can relive that hilarious tale below…