The written media will not be able to speak to Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce ahead of their clash with Leeds United on Tuesday, according to Oscar Paul.
The Sun journalist has reported via his personal Twitter account that radio and broadcasters will “continue as normal” but members of the written press will be unable to attend Bruce’s pre-match press conference on Monday.
The written media section for Steve Bruce's press conference tomorrow has been scrapped. Radio and broadcasters continue as normal. #NUFC
— Oscar Paul (@oscarpaul2) January 24, 2021
Bruce is under a lot of pressure at St James’ Park after seeing the Magpies lose 2-0 to Aston Villa on Saturday night.
Ahead of their home clash with Leeds on Tuesday, they are on an eight-match winless streak in the Premier League.
Bruce to hide away from media?
We’re not sure whether this is something that Newcastle want, Mike Ashley wants, Bruce wants or the Premier League wants but to hide the manager away from the media ahead of a big match is very sketchy.
Bruce has come under a lot of criticism in recent weeks for Newcastle’s woeful run of form in the Premier League, as well as their rotten, uninspiring performances.
Leeds haven’t been in the best of form lately but once glance up at the North-East and you do feel a lot better about supporting the Whites.
Yes, we’re in a bad run of form and yes, we are sliding down the table but at least we’re in nowhere near the position Newcastle and their fans are in.
Bruce not speaking to the written media is just very poor form and Newcastle fans are, understandably, frustrated.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
Punished for asking the questions that need to be asked. Its a disgrace and I am sure the club are breaching their contractual agreement with the EPL.
— Zippy (@ToonArmyBarmy74) January 24, 2021
Ashley is a “fit and proper”owner though. Yet somehow the Saudis wouldn’t be.
— James griffiths (@Jamesgr03407364) January 24, 2021
So bruce keeps telling us he is big enough to accept criticism until he actually gets it #nufc
— R N (@geordieruss1981) January 24, 2021
Banning the written media only ends in one way, Bruce is gone now like the pressure is building on him
— Sam Storey (@SammStoreyy94) January 24, 2021
We can sympathise with Newcastle supporters because, unfortunately, we’ve been there and felt the impact that bad ownership can have.
Bad managers, too.
But blocking part of the media from attending a press conference is awful and just wreaks of discontent behind the scenes in the North-East.
Hopefully we can capitalise on it on Tuesday night to return to form but in the grand scheme of things, we do hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Newcastle fans, in the same way, there was for us.
In other Leeds United news, Jamie Redknapp has made a prediction for the match at St James’ Park.
