'We've waited long enough' – Steve Bruce reveals Mike Ashley phone call as he talks Newcastle United takeover

Bruce’s side ended the 2019/20 campaign with a home loss to Liverpool, leaving them in 13th place for the season, one point worse off than this time last year.

And Bruce admits the uncertainty around the club’s future was not something discussed when the Sports Direct tycoon got in touch after the final whistle against the Reds.

But it is something Bruce thinks he needs an answer on.

“It's vitally important we have a decision one way or the other,” said Bruce to BT Sport.

"Surely 14, 15 or 16 weeks is long enough? That's the difficulty for ourselves. I've been in the game a long, long time thankfully. I've got a bit of experience and there's nothing I can do about it. I've just got to progress as if nothing's happening and see where that takes us. It's still there with the Premier League and we'll have to see what happens there."

On that Ashley call: “He just wanted to say a thank you to everyone for the hard work and have a good summer. That was it.”

Transfers are very much on the agenda for Bruce, though – and he’s hinted at getting some business done early.

“It's imperative that we get a bit of (transfer) business done, yes. And that'll happen. We've got one or two things bubbling away, let's see what we can do,” he said.”

Bruce will give his players three weeks off now before a return to training in mid-August is pencilled in.

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