Rio Ferdinand believes Steve Bruce “warrants a chance” of managing Newcastle United if a takeover is complete.
The United takeover has been rumbling on for longer than three months without an answer.
Frustrated fans launched a petition earlier this week to push the Premier League for clarity over the takeover which surpassed 5,000 signatures in a couple of hours.
The petition implored Richard Masters, the CEO of the Premier League, to make a decision after 13 weeks of deliberations and it proved popular online as thousands added their names to the Change.org petition.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters said last week he wants a conclusion "shortly" as all sides press for answers and clarity on one of the most complex cases the league has ever dealt with.
And Ferdinand, covering a Newcastle game for the first time since his firm defence of Mike Ashley back in January, believes Bruce is doing a better job Rafa Benitez did and deserves a shot under the new owners.
“It’s difficult, though, in a situation like this, with the takeover potentially coming through at Newcastle,” he told BT Sport.
“He doesn’t know the levels. For instance, right now, he’s probably on a shoestring budget under the current ownership.
“There’s not loads to spend, you’d imagine. If that continues, and he stays as the owner, he’s got that way to think about it, but he’s also got a plan just in case, if the new owner comes in, and there’s huge money to spend. It’s not easy.
“It’s something I’m sure he’s never had to do before. Listen, he’s eight points better off than last season, with Rafa Benitez before, who the fans loved.
“He’s doing better than he was doing. You’d like to think he would get a chance under the new ownership. The grass isn’t always greener somewhere else with a fashionable name or whatever. This guy knows what it’s like to manage clubs like this.
“I’m the same as Jermaine, he’s done a great job and warrants a chance if the new owners come in.”
