Steve Bruce reveals his stance on Newcastle United takeover legal moves

Mike Ashley, Newcastle United’s owner, brought a case to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) after the Premier League failed to approve a proposed takeover by a consortium which included Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) last year.

And a number of allegations were made by Daniel Jowell, the QC representing St James Holdings, at a jurisdiction hearing on Wednesday.

Asked if he had followed the CAT hearing, Bruce said: “All you reporters have been jumping all over it.

"It seems, if I’m honest, a bit complicated for me. So I’m going to be brutally honest with you and say I have not got a clue on what it’s all about, where it’s going. You’re going to have to ask other people, as, probably, you will know more than I do.”

Asked if he had to “switch off” from the takeover legal moves, United’s head coach added: “I have to. There’s nothing I can do about that.

"It seems to be an ongoing saga here. It’s gone on for years before I arrived. My job is to just win a football match, which is difficult enough at the moment, and focus on the team and playing and how we’re going to play. To get involved in all of that, I think, would be wrong, I’ll let other people do that.”

Asked if he was surprised about allegations of opposition to the takeover from other clubs, Bruce added: “It wouldn’t surprise me, no. You wouldn’t want a big player on the patch.”

Bruce was also asked if the takeover uncertainty had had an impact on his job since he took charge.

"I can only do what I can do,” said Bruce. “If it benefits the club that a takeover’s going to happen, and it’s going to be good for Newcastle and everybody concerned, them great.

"I only want the best (for the club) since I’ve walked through the door here. I only want what’s best for this club. If that means a takeover, then great. In the meantime, it's been hanging around and hovering around, but I’m not going to ever make that as an excuse. It’s difficult at times, of course.”

Winless Newcastle are 17th in the Premier League table with three points.

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