Steve Bruce will be out of a job if Newcastle United keep losing games but friend Simon Jordan does not believe a sacking is on the cards because Mike Ashley is 'too busy playing possum'.
Winless Newcastle dropped to 19th place in the table following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Wolves on Saturday.
The leaky Magpies have picked up just three points from games against West Ham, Aston Villa, Southampton, Manchester United, Leeds, Watford and Wolves so far this season.
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Although Bruce has only won seven matches since mid-December, the Newcastle boss still has the backing of the club's hierarchy, who stood by him even after a humiliating defeat at Brighton just six months ago.
Club chiefs have noted how the players are still playing for Bruce and the powers at be agree with the 60-year-old that Newcastle have been close to finally getting that first win.
The final result is what matters, of course, but Newcastle came within minutes of beating Southampton in August while the black-and-whites squandered a host of opportunities to win at Watford last month.
Those at the top have taken positives from recent performances against Watford and Leeds, in particular, even if Newcastle could not beat sides currently in 15th and 16th.
While supporters rightly wonder where the next win is coming from, given the relatively kind start Newcastle have had, the hierarchy are not panicking and believe the return of key players such as Callum Wilson, Martin Dubravka, Jonjo Shelvey, Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett could yet help the Magpies pull clear of danger.
Jordan, who previously employed Bruce at Crystal Palace, thinks Ashley will only act if the situation gets worse.
"If he keeps losing games, he will but I don't think there's an agenda to sack Steve Bruce from Mike Ashley because I think Mike Ashley is too busy playing possum with other things," he told talkSPORT.
Ashley, of course, is desperate to resurrect the club's Saudi-backed takeover via the courts and the main arbitration hearing is due to get under way on January 3.
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