Steve Bruce left his future as Hull City manager in doubt after the club were relegated and Newcastle United survived on a tumultuous final day on which West Ham United also confirmed Sam Allardyce’s contract would not be renewed following their 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park.
While Mike Ashley, the owner, pledged beforehand not to sell the club until a trophy or Champions League football is achieved, goals from Moussa Sissoko and Jonás Gutiérrez gave Newcastle a victory that made Hull’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United at the KC Stadium academic.
Bruce, who was the manager of Birmingham City in 2006 when they were relegated, recently signed a new deal but admitted this could prove worthless. “Contracts are contracts. The contract means nothing in football,” he said. “I’ve not been good enough. I’ll reflect on that and have a conversation with the powers that be. I’ve let the owner [Assem Allam] down. A lot of decisions have to be made. I hope I’m given the opportunity to do so. I don’t think it’s the time to talk about myself. We simply haven’t been good enough.”
Adding to a bad day for Hull, Abel Hernández is liable to face a three-match ban after appearing to strike Phil Jones in an incident not seen by the officials.
Allardyce claimed his parting with West Ham was by mutual consent and that he has no immediate plans to return to management. Speaking after the loss on Tyneside he said: “I knew it was coming. There’s no problem. I’ve had a discussion with the owners and we both agree it’s the right time to move on. I’ve just told players: ’Thanks for four great seasons.’ I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity managing a great club like West Ham. The job has been a great pleasure. I’ve really enjoyed it and done everything I was asked.
“I don’t want to be in charge of a football club in August. If and when I come I need to have recharged my batteries. It might be a year’s time, it might be Christmas time, it’s just when the right job comes up but I can’t see myself being in charge of a football club at the start of next season.
“I knew it was time to leave, the right time to leave. You don’t overstay your welcome. You have to commit your whole life to being a Premier League manager, you’re under scrutiny the whole time. You have to be totally obsessed with the job, it’s a strain on your family, particularly your wife.”
As for Newcastle, the normally media-shy Ashley made a rare television appearance to admit being shocked at the club’s predicament. “I didn’t anticipate we would be anywhere near this situation. After the last couple of weeks I’m still a little bit shocked about where we find ourselves today,” he said.
Ashley accepted full responsibility. “It’s at my door. I will continue the policy of investing in the football club. We’ve got the club on a very sound financial footing so we are able to spend and punch above our weight thanks to the current financial situation the club finds itself in. We may have the cart but we now need to bolt the horse on and we are going to.
“Now [my intention] is definitely to win something – and by the way, I won’t be selling it until I do,” he said before insisting Newcastle is not for sale. “Not at any price. And when I say: ‘Win something,’ if we ever get into a position of being in a Champions League place, that also qualifies as winning something. To be categorically clear, I am not going anywhere until we win something.”
John Carver said he wants to stay as Newcastle manager despite Ashley wanting to make a second approach to Steve McClaren. “I want this job,” Carver said. “I’m not going anywhere unless they tell me. I want to be the manager of this football club. I’ve had to deal with an awful lot. An awful lot has gone against me. Under normal circumstances I could have done a better job. But today makes up for everything.
“The emotion was incredible. Quite amazing. It feels like we’ve just won a cup. I’m sitting here feeling like I’ve just won the cup. We realised it was a Champions League final, we prepared for it right and when I looked in the players’ eyes I knew they were ready for it. We just had to deal with the emotion. The atmosphere was like a Champions League game, credit to the crowd. They got behind the club. We were all united. This football club has to be one for us to be successful. We can’t afford to get into this situation ever again. We all know we’ve made mistakes. This is a big summer. I’ve been assured we’re going to make signings and spend money.”
