sport news Newcastle United: Will Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers or replace ...

sport news Newcastle United: Will Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers or replace ...
sport news Newcastle United: Will Steven Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers or Antonio Conte replace ...

Steve Bruce is set to be sacked this week as Newcastle United's new Saudi owners make their mark on the club they have purchased for £305million.

The St James' Park club are now under the control of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund with British businesswoman Amanda Staveley and her advisors tasked with finding a new manager.

Bruce, 60, is far from popular with the fans and the new owners are very much aware his presence in the dug-out for Sunday's home game against Tottenham will have a negative impact.

Steve Bruce is set to be sacked as Newcastle United manager this week after the £305million takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment fund

Steve Bruce is set to be sacked as Newcastle United manager this week after the £305million takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment fund 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is chairman of the fund and Newcastle now rank as having the wealthiest backers in world football

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is chairman of the fund and Newcastle now rank as having the wealthiest backers in world football 

Amanda Staveley and her advisors will lead the search for a new manager for Newcastle

Amanda Staveley and her advisors will lead the search for a new manager for Newcastle 

His pay-off will be around £8million, small change for the new owners, who have assets totalling £295billion, a figure increasing all the time.

Bruce's assistant Graeme Jones is expected to be put in temporary charge for the Spurs game and potentially several more fixtures with the owners realistic that the search for Bruce's replacement won't be completed overnight.

So who are the names in the frame to take over as manager and who has the best credentials?

Lucien Favre

Swiss coach Favre, 63, has been out of work since Borussia Dortmund sacked him last December following a poor run of one win in five that culminated in a 5-1 home thrashing by Stuttgart.

There had been plenty of underlying causes for his dismissal, including public criticism of his tactics from senior players, a lack of enthusiasm to energise a talented young side and once again trailing Bayern Munich in the table.

But all that didn't stop Crystal Palace trying to appoint Favre in the summer and it was only his late change of heart after a three-year contract was drawn up that saw Patrick Vieira appointed instead.

Lucien Favre's last job was at Borussia Dortmund though he came close to taking over at Crystal Palace back in the summer

Lucien Favre's last job was at Borussia Dortmund though he came close to taking over at Crystal Palace back in the summer

Next Newcastle manager odds  

3/1 - Lucien Favre

4/1 - Antonio Conte

9/1 - Roberto Martinez

12/1 - Steven Gerrard, Eddie Howe

14/1 - Graham Potter, Brendan Rodgers

Odds from Betfair and correct as of Monday morning 

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It is now believed Favre is ready to return to management, however, and there was some success when at Dortmund. They twice finished second in the Bundesliga under his management and reached the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Given Newcastle's aspirations to get back into Europe in the coming seasons, a manager like Favre with experience of the Champions League would be useful.

Newcastle's owners will be intrigued by what he also achieved at Borussia Monchengladbach, who were relegation candidates when he took over but rose up the table to qualify for Europe's leading competition.

Favre can also demonstrate an ability to get a tune out of high-profile players, assuming Newcastle are going to splash the cash, with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland thriving under him at Dortmund.

Brendan Rodgers

The Leicester City manager has been linked with the Newcastle position ever since reports emerged that the much-delayed takeover was going to actually happen.

Leicester are 13th in the Premier League at the moment and after two seasons of agonising top four near-misses, there may be a case to suggest it is time for Rodgers to take on a new project.

He certainly comes with a good CV, having led Leicester to their first-ever FA Cup win last season as well as multiple trophies at Celtic and coming within a whisker of the Premier League at Liverpool in 2014.

Leicester have come close to cracking the top four twice, and won the FA Cup, under Rodgers

Leicester have come close to cracking the top four twice, and won the FA Cup, under Rodgers

Rodgers' various cup successes will appeal given Newcastle haven't won any major silverware since 1969 and this is a long wait the new owners will be determined to end as soon as possible.

The 48-year-old also ticks a lot of other boxes in terms of favouring an exciting brand of football, his tactical acumen and being a likeable figure.

It remains to be seen if Rodgers can be tempted to leave Leicester, where he is contracted until 2025 and will have complete faith he can turn around their sluggish

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