Dean Saunders believes Newcastle United should offer Steve Bruce a new contract and insists that the Magpies boss is "doing a good job" on Tyneside.
The 57-year-old told TalkSPORT that he believes Bruce has had his "hands tied" and has done enough to warrant a new deal.
It comes after reports suggested that the Magpies boss could be handed a new three-year deal by the club, with Mike Ashley content with keeping the club in the Premier League.
Newcastle later offered a 'no comment' response to the speculation.
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Former Magpies coach Saunders says the Newcastle boss is doing a good job working with "minimum funds."
He told TalkSPORT: "He gets criticised for the team not playing attractive football but I think he deserves a new contract for working with Mike Ashley.
"He's got his hands tied and they finished 13th.
"He's a Newcastle fan. I've been there and worked there, it's a great club with great supporters.
"They're really enthusiastic and as friendly as you can imagine - any other club I've been at, I was treated brilliantly there.
"They demand that the team goes at people but that's been squashed a little bit because they've been relegated and then [Rafa] Benitez took over and played 4-5-1.
"I never thought a crowd at St. James' Park - you'd be able to sit back and let teams have 60 per cent possession, but they did.
"They realised he's done the job with no money and now Steve Bruce has ended up with the job. Similarly, he's setting the team up not to lose most games.
"He's having a go at teams he thinks he can beat and he's not shopping in the top shelf. He's shopping three stores down somewhere to try and get his players.
"He's been given the minimum amount of money and if he keeps Newcastle in league, I think he's done a good job."
