Huge bust-up at NUFC as player clashes with Bruce - Charnley arrives & squad fed up - Report
According to an explosive 'exclusive' from The Mail's Craig Hope, Steve Bruce and Matt Ritchie were involved in physical confrontation and expletive-filled bust-up at the club's training ground on Tuesday.
Hope claims that Ritchie took issue being singled out for blame after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolves and called the manager to have it out with him straight after the game - only to be told by Bruce that he'll have to wait until training resumes on Tuesday.
When that day came and the players returned to Benton, Hope reveals how Ritchie called Bruce a 'coward' when first-team coach Steve Agnew told the winger that the NUFC boss was ready to speak with him in his office.
Bruce is then believed to have stormed onto the training field and 'shoulder-barged' into Ritchie - although it's said the latter did not respond physically.
Hope states that Bruce was 'infuriated' by Ritchie calling him a 'coward' and said to him: "After all I've done for you" - to which the player said "You've done **** all for me!"
After Ritchie added that he was "done' with the 60-year-old, The Mail claim that Bruce said, "What are you going to do? Tell Lee Charnley?" - an alleged reference to Bruce's 'suspicion' that. the players have been making Lee Charnley aware of their unhappiness towards the boss.
Funnily enough, Craig Hope states that Lee Charnley then arrived at the club's Benton training base the day after (Wednesday).
The report also reveals that the players have sided with the winger and are growing sick of the Newcastle United boss - believing he never takes the blame for our poor results and instead throws individuals under the bus; something he did when blaming Ritchie, Lewis, Dubravka and Joelinton for their part in last weekend's game.
Another telling line from the exclusive highlights that the player are keen to see Graeme Jones take over until the end of the season - showing how little faith the squad has in current boss Steve Bruce.
Hope also reveals that there is a growing feeling amongst the team that it is 'never his fault' when it comes to Steve Bruce's response to results, performances and errors made - with it even said that a WhatsApp group between certain players has seen them laugh off some of the manager's comments in the media; one being his 'my way' claims 18 months into the job!
What a mess. Get him sacked before it's too late - oh wait...
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