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Steve Bruce vows to fight on as Newcastle boss next season

  /  autty

Steve Bruce says he wants to carry on as Newcastle boss next season - and has denied criticising the expectation of the club's fans.

The head coach gave a radio interview this week that sparked a backlash against him among supporters and local press.

Bruce had said it was 'difficult' managing 'expectation' on Tyneside, an opinion that has long since angered fans when put forward by others.

But Bruce claims: 'If the fans think that I meant their expectations are too high, then that's not what I meant at all. That's my limited vocabulary.

'Maybe I used the wrong word with expectations, because what makes this club great is the supporters. They come in their thousands and want the club to do well. And basically, so do I.'

A subsequent report said Bruce could quit the club this summer, if owner Mike Ashley is not forthcoming with sufficient transfer funds.

But Bruce says the only way he will be leaving is if the club sack him.

'I've got a contract,' he said. 'Until I hear otherwise, I'm going to crack on. We're doing pre-season at the moment. We're putting all the plans in place. Conversations will be had, and that's what I can say on it.

'I am a football manager, I am not ready to retire yet. You have to dust yourself down and have a thick skin. I will crack on to the best of my ability.

'I have to accept criticism, and don't let it beat you up too badly and affect you.'

Newcastle are safe in 16th position ahead of Friday's visit of champions Manchester City. They have won only five matches since mid-December, but three of those have come in the wake of a 3-0 defeat at Brighton in March that had fans calling for the manager to go.

'We're not going to celebrate (staying up),' added Bruce. 'We all aspire to take Newcastle into the top 10, that's where I wanted to be and the supporters want to be.

'It takes time, we haven't got the capability to change it around, it takes more than one transfer window. We have to keep moving forward. Breaking into the top 10 or top 12 is the next step.'

Related: Newcastle United