Steve Bruce has rubbished suggestions that England coach Graeme Jones was appointed above his head earlier this year.
The former Luton Town boss was appointed in January and his arrival helped improve results in the second half of the campaign.
But Bruce told listeners on BBC Radio Newcastle that he presented a shortlist of three coaches to his board before the club paid compensation to lure Jones away from AFC Bournemouth.
When asked if the appointment was made without his influence, Bruce said: "I've been in the job for something like 20 years.
"Do you really think I'm going to allow something like that to happen?
"First and foremost, results weren't great at the time.
"It was important I brought somebody in, and I spoke to two or three candidates.
"Graeme was the first choice with what he'd done, and he's a Geordie who was desperate to come back up here and work for his boyhood club.
"That was one of the big reasons."
When asked about the positive reception Jones has enjoyed from supporters, Bruce said: "Listen, I'm genuinely delighted that I've made the right choice. I have to put that out there.
"I spoke to two or three people, and in all of this the dialogue with Lee Charnley was I'd like to get Graeme Jones.
"It was going to be difficult because he was doing very well at Bournemouth, we knew there had to be compensation.
"More importantly, when I met with Graeme, there was a burning desire to come and be part of Newcastle because of his allegiance to the club.
"That was the overriding thing that attracted me to him."
