Steve Bruce ready to take over at Newcastle United
Published 00:00 14/02/09 By Exclusive: By Alan Nixon
Steve Bruce is ready to answer an SOS from Newcastle and become their next boss if Mike Ashley goes for a replacement for Joe Kinnear who has had heart surgery.
Wigan chief Bruce has never made any secret of his desire to boss 'his' club and regrets turning them down when he was younger.
Bruce has taken Wigan to Premier League safety just over a year after joining from Birmingham City - but he has private fears about their future after selling some stars and facing the loss of more in the summer.
Chairman Dave Whelan paid a record fee to take Bruce from Birmingham, but the veteran supremo keeps dropping hints he may be willing to sell the club.
The Toon job has always been Bruce's dream despite his potential claims to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Ashley faces a major decision with caretakers Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood thrown into a relegation dogfight by Joe Kinnear's triple heart by-pass operation. Terry Venables and Bryan Robson have been considered as short-term options.
But Bruce would be a winner with the fans and those close to him guarantee that he would take on the task at the Toon this time around.
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