Newcastle United are not the one club that is opposed to fans returning by the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures, according to journalist Henry Winter.
The chief football writer at The Times had stated on Thursday morning that one club in the Premier League wants to wait until next season for the return of fans in stadiums.
He wrote: “For sporting ‘integrity’ it makes sense if *every* Premier League club has a home fixture with some fans.
“That means delaying penultimate round of fixtures until after May 17 (season ends 23rd). One club wants to wait until next season for fans’ return for organisational reasons.”
That claim prompted a lot of speculation from fans about the identity of the club that wants to wait.
Plenty of Newcastle fans felt sure that the Magpies were the team in question.
Given the reception Steve Bruce is likely to get from fans following such a terrible season, it was a reasonable assumption.
However when asked by a fan if he was talking about Newcastle, Winter said: “It’s another club, Joe. I’ve not spoken to Newcastle. But I can imagine the atmosphere if fixtures tweaked and 10,000 fans were inside SJP given the issues with owner and manager. Good luck either way.”
There are a lot of Newcastle fans out there who believe Bruce is only still in a job because there have been no scenes of unrest on a matchday due to fans not currently being allowed in.
Winter claim is a surprise
That Newcastle are not the club opposed to fans returning for the end of the season is actually quite surprising.
The hierarchy will know full well the kind of reception that awaits for Bruce once supporters are allowed back in.
Even if Newcastle move clear of safety with a couple of games to go, it is highly unlikely there will be anything other than hostility.
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