Devastating news as Mike Ashley's stance on Steve Bruce's future is revealed by Sky Sports

Sky Sports’ North East reporter Keith Downie has revealed that Steve Bruce looks set to cling onto his job despite last night’s horror show on the South Coast.

He reports that Mike Ashley has no intention of giving him the sack, instead planning to "repay Bruce's loyalty" and expecting the "manager and players to step up in the coming weeks".

This comes after calls for Bruce's head were louder than every last night, with us putting in perhaps the worst display of the Mike Ashley era in a 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Brighton.

Many expected Bruce to be sacked immediately after the game, or at the very latest Monday morning, yet it seems our deluded owner is happy to see us sleepwalk towards another relegation.

Here's what Downie's had to say in a devastating Sunday morning update:

Although it's entirely unsurprising, this news serves as concrete proof that Mike Ashley simply couldn’t care less about the fortunes of our club.

He continues to neglect us in times of struggle, yet somehow he is deemed perfectly fit and proper by the Premier League?

An alien could tell you that Bruce needs to be sacked - immediately - to have any glimmer of hope in saving our already turgid season.