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| Newcastle manager Steve Bruce (l) with coach Graeme Jones on the touchline during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on October 17, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. |
Former Everton coach Graeme Jones will take charge of Newcastle for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace after Steve Bruce left the Magpies by 'mutual consent' on Wednesday morning.
The St James' Park club are embarking on a new era under Saudi ownership following a takeover last week and speculation surrounding Bruce's future has swirled ever since.
The 60-year-old remained in the hotseat for the visit of Tottenham on Sunday, but his 1,000th game in management ended in a 3-2 defeat and he has now left the club.
Newcastle announced the news on Wednesday and confirmed assistant manager Jones, who was also number two to Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park, will lead the team on an interim basis.
Starting with this weekend's clash with Crystal Palace, he will be supported by the coaching team of Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence, Ben Dawson and Simon Smith.
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| Newcastle manager Steve Bruce (l) with coach Graeme Jones on the touchline during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on October 17, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. |
The 51-year-old, who was born in Gateshead, joined Newcastle in January 2021 after leaving his role as first-team coach with Bournemouth and was also part of Gareth Southgate’s England staff for Euro 2020.
A former forward with Wigan, Jones followed Martinez to Everton in July 2013 and left Merseyside when the Spaniard was dismissed by the Toffees in May 2016.
Jones also worked alongside Martinez with the Belgium national team.
Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are names who have been tentatively linked with taking on the Newcastle job full time.
But Paulo Fonseca, Eddie Howe and Lucien Favre are currently the shortest odds with the bookies to replace Bruce.
