Gary Lineker gives immediate reaction to Newcastle sacking Steve Bruce

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Gary Lineker has paid tribute to Steve Bruce following Newcastle United’s decision to sack him.

The 60-year-old is no longer Toon boss, with the club confirming his departure on Wednesday morning.

It signals the end of a woeful couple of years for Newcastle fans, who have been subjected to terrible football and pitiful results.

But Bruce did do what he was asked – he kept Newcastle in the Premier League. It wasn’t pretty, nor was it enough to earn him a chance under new ownership.

Following the announcement, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker wrote the following on Twitter: “Steve Bruce has handled a difficult situation with great dignity during this period. Under trying circumstances and with generally poor recruitment by the club he did as well as realistically could be expected. Wish a very decent man all the very best.”

Is Gary Lineker right about Steve Bruce?

Not sure if a lot of Newcastle fans would agree with the part about ‘dignity’…

Did he do as well as realistically expected? I think that’s probably a fair assessment. Under Ashley, survival was all that was required. Bruce did that on two occasions.

The point on recruitment is interesting. In the most recent window he wasn’t backed at all, but in years prior he did get some big money signings.

The likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson were wonderful investments. There was also a lot of money spent on Joelinton and Jamal Lewis, which hasn’t gone quite as well.

All in all, Bruce delivered survival, and that was as good as it got.

The fact he isn’t getting a chance to prove himself under new owners says a lot.

The club have made the right decision – a decision that they never should have had to make. But it’s not their fault Ashley was happy to let Bruce blindly lead a rudderless ship into the abyss.

It certainly was a ‘difficult situation’ as Lineker puts it. But it’s a situation that is behind us now, and Toon fans can dream about a brighter future under new owners and a new manager.