'Newcastle fans are better than this' - Jim White reacts to 'staggering' abuse aimed at under-fire Toon boss Bruce

TalkSPORT host Jim White hit out online abuse received by Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce following his side’s defeat to Manchester United on Sunday evening.
Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The Magpies find themselves just three points above the relegation zone after slumping to a 3-1 loss at Old Trafford, with 18th-placed Fulham chasing them down determinedly in recent weeks.

And following another disappointing result on the pitch, White was quick to highlight the barrage of abuse directed at the under-fire Toon boss online in the aftermath of the game.

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Earlier in the month, White held an interview with Alex Bruce over the toll that such comments are having on his father, and the host expressed his agitation that they have not abated in the weeks since that conversation was broadcast.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “They are quite staggering in just how vile they are.

"I spoke to Alex Bruce a few days ago, and Alex came on and said, ‘You want to see it, it is grim’. I’m afraid there’s been a breakout of it again. It’s quite unbelievable.

"It would be hard for anybody not to let this affect them. They’re insulting Steve to the point where you’re thinking, ‘What’s going on?’.

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"I can’t quote them because they are unquotable. There’s an inappropriate word every second or third word, and these are just a few.

"Newcastle fans are better than this. We don’t even know if these are Newcastle fans.”

Responding to White’s comments, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan said: “The vociferous will always, at times, tar the minority.

"There’s a general sense of unhappiness towards Steve Bruce. I don’t really think he was given a chance from the moment he walked through the door. I think the default setting was that he was an uninspired choice, and that he was Mike Ashley’s man, and that he was never going to be given any ground.

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"They’ll push back, and those that are a bit more reasonable in their response will say that the football has been bland and he wouldn’t change, and that he’s only changed because the players have forced it upon him and the fans have forced it.

"I thought Newcastle actually played very well against Manchester United. I thought they were unlucky.

"I think some of the things that have gone on in recent weeks – the loss of Callum Wilson – are very telling.

"He [Bruce] can’t listen to this noise. There’s no point in listening to this noise.

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“With due respect, and I know it’s easier for me to say, but I’ve been on the receiving end of abuse, and a total stranger calling me a name is irrelevant to me. It’s academic because I don’t care what their opinion is.

"Brucy will put it in the background and not listen to it. These people are incidental, they’re academic. They’re shouting into the wilderness. They’re on social media because they are angry at society, they can’t go in stadiums, and the team aren’t performing well.

"There’s no excuse for it, there’s no reason for it. It’s pretty rank, but it’s small-minded, insignificant people.

"Why would you listen to a moron?”