Mike Ashley makes decision on Steve Bruce's Newcastle United future amid sack calls

There were renewed calls for Bruce to be sacked following last night's 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion. However, Ashley has already made it clear that Bruce retains his backing.

Ashley believes that Bruce can guide the club, which is two points above the Premier League’s relegation zone, out of trouble between now and the end of the season.

Bruce was asked what the defeat meant for his position at the club.

"Well, as I’ve always said, that’s for other people to answer, but the one thing that I won’t ever do is give up on anything, as we’ve had a bad defeat,” said United’s head coach.

"We’ve been OK, I believe, we haven’t been sensational over the last few weeks, but we have to accept, I have to accept, the criticism that’s going to come our way and the fallout from it, because we were simply nowhere near good enough on a big occasion. We simply haven’t done enough.

"Of course, the buck stops with me. It always does, and I have no problem (with that), because of the way we played, I fully understand the frustration and disappointment of everybody, and rightly so.”

Asked if he believed staying in charge would be best for the club, Bruce said: “Well, I believe that. I’ve been around the block a long, long time. That experience, I’m trying to draw on it.

"I’m not the type to to just walk away from a bad defeat. You’re going to have to ask others.”

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