Newcastle United fans are worried for the team's safety in the Premier League as reports of a training ground bust-up between Steve Bruce and Matt Ritchie became public on Wednesday night.
Ritchie is said to have been upset with Bruce's public criticism of his role in Wolverhampton Wanderers' equaliser at the weekend.
Ritchie was substituted onto the pitch minutes prior to Ruben Neves' goal with instructions to alter the Newcastle formation, with Jacob Murphy switching from the left flank to right-back.
However, lines of communication were slow and Newcastle did not reset into the new formation quickly enough, with Wolves taking advantage of the space vacated by Murphy's absence.
Jamie Carragher conducted a six-minute analysis of the situation on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, highlighting the confusion of the players and how that led to the Wolves equaliser, while Bruce publicly criticised Ritchie.
He told TV reporters after the game: "The instructions Matty didn't get on to the team quick enough on how we were doing it."
A Daily Mail report on Wednesday night claimed that Ritchie and Bruce exchanged angry words, with Bruce even barging into the former Bournemouth star.
Ritchie is said to have been left extremely angry after the weekend's events, but with Newcastle not scheduled to return to training until Tuesday, Bruce said in a phone call between the pair that it would be sorted in the week, which only furthered Ritchie's annoyance.
Ritchie reportedly apologised to staff and players but the bust-up leaves fans worried about the team and their mindset to focus on the relegation battle.
The club issued a "no comment" status when contacted by Chronicle Live.
Here is the fan reaction to the recent developments.
@Rich1982Miller: "Friday's presser is going to be interesting."
@PaulG89086232: "This has surely put the final nail in our premiership coffin. Well done Mr Ashley, Mr Charnley and everyone’s Mr nice guy Steve Bruce. I was prepared to give him a chance when appointed how wrong could I be."
@hencotesray: "What is a 'cool down'....? Why would they need it? Surely a 'wake up' is required."
@PaulSutcliffe80: "Bruce should be sacked now... Completely lost the dressing room. Any other club, he’d be gone. Utter shambles what’s going on just before the most important game of the season that @NUFC must win."
@terpautus: "If there’s ever been a more embarrassing manager in the premiership than Bruce I’ll be surprised, oops I forgot, Kinnear, McLaren etc. We do seem to get them."
@markCok18922693: "Considering the club are normally 7 months behind anything in their communication this definitely looks to be a "damage limitation" exercise. Too late @NUFC."
@WayneJJones: "What does Lee Charnley get paid to do, he escapes a lot of criticism, constantly hides behind his failed decisions?"
Newcastle travel to West Brom on Sunday lunchtime in one of the most important games of the season to date.
