Here are the Newcastle United evening headlines on Thursday, March 25.
Ferdinand makes bizarre suggestion to Newcastle fans
Rio Ferdinand has suggested Newcastle fans should "round their money up" and buy the club off Mike Ashley.
The former Manchester United defender has claimed the club's supporters should accumulate £300million between them if they are so concerned about Ashley's ownership.
“He doesn't care what people think,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. “It’s his club and he’s doing what he wants to do.
“Whether you like it or not, he’s the one that’s put the money up and he’s doing what he thinks is right for the club.
“Whether the Geordies don’t like it, a lot of them hate him and don’t like him but, round your money up and take over the club then.”
Read the full story here.
Bruce slammed by former striker
Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has slammed Steve Bruce's management at Newcastle.
Bruce is under serious pressure from the Magpies supporters with the club hovering dangerously above the relegation zone.
However, Ashley has backed the Geordie manager this week despite the humbling the team suffered against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Whelan, though, speaking to Football Insider, has ripped into Bruce and his management of the team.
He said: "The wheels have been coming off for quite a while, there’s no doubt about that. On the field, it’s absolutely woeful. It’s shocking, it really is.
"It looks like there’s absolutely no confidence in that club whatsoever. Steve Bruce keeps saying he’s not going to walk away. Will a change at this moment do much? I’m not so sure.
"It can’t get any worse. He’s not getting the best out of the players. They have injuries, I get that. But you’ve got to find that energy, that way of geeing them up somehow. It doesn’t seem like he’s able to do that.
"That’s a really worrying thing that you can’t get the players to do the basics – putting effort in, working hard, running hard.
"Before you even think about your flair and your link-up play, you’ve got to tick one box and that’s ‘are we working hard?’
"At the moment, he’s not even getting that. That’s ringing relegation alarm bells. At least Fulham are working hard, working for the manager.
"When you look at Newcastle, they look like a sinking ship. They’re going only one way and that’s right down."
Read the full story here.
Bruce backed by Agbonlahor
Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is backing Bruce to turn things around at Newcastle.
Agbonlahor worked with Bruce at Villa Park and has now backed his old boss, suggesting that there is only so much a manager is able to do.
"It’s what I’ve always said, everyone’s slating Steve Bruce but I back Steve Bruce," he told Football Insider.
“He put out a team to go out and perform but there’s only so much a manager can do. The players need to hold their hands up and make it right.
"You look at Joelinton, he hasn’t turned up all season for Newcastle. He’s still not turning up.
“For me, Steve Bruce has now got to work out what 11 players are going to fight for him and fight for the club and pick them. If that’s Dwight Gayle, if that’s Andy Carroll, if that’s Matt Ritchie, if that’s the Longstaff brothers in midfield.
“Whoever is going to fight for him and the club – that’s what it’s about now.
“Certain players are letting him down, the likes of Ryan Fraser, the likes of Joelinton, they’re not doing anything, they’re not showing any hunger, they’re not showing any fight.
“I’m sure Steve Bruce will be making changes for the games coming up," he concluded.
