Steve Agnew has spoken out after his Newcastle United departure.
When Steve Bruce was sacked on October 20th, it felt like only a matter of time before the other Steves followed him.
Both Agnew and Stephen Clemence remained with the club, helping out Graeme Jones during his spell as interim manager.
On November 8th, Eddie Howe was appointed as Bruce’s replacement. And on November 16th, the club officially confirmed the new coaching setup that will be joining Howe.
The 43-year-old has brought in a few of his own coaches, as well as keeping Jones, Ben Dawson and Simon Smith.
The Steves leave
However, Agnew and Clemence have gone. They were brought in by Bruce in 2019, and they leave with him two years later.
Bruce’s spell with Newcastle ended in disastrous fashion. A manager who was massively underperforming was kept on by an uninterested owner, in a situation where any other club would have made a change.
There was criticism from every angle aimed at Bruce and his team. And one issue was training. There were reportedly plenty of days off, while some players allegedly felt that training was designed to suit the manager rather than the players.
Following his Newcastle departure, Agnew has hit back at these claims.
“As a coaching team, we worked tirelessly in a bid to improve the squad,” the 56-year-old told the Daily Star.
“Whether it was on the training pitch, watching videos, analysing data or just discussing tactics, we certainly put the hours in.
“To say there were too many days off or that the players got off lightly is out of order.
“Whenever we did give them time off, it was only after taking advice from the sports scientists.”
Sadly for Bruce’s coaching team, the proof is in the pudding. For the majority of 2021, results have been shocking. And as time went on, things were getting worse – a terrifying prospect.
Fans have reacted to Agnew’s comments, and it’s fair to say they’re not impressed.
Newcastle fans don’t agree with Steve Agnew
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