Steve Bruce slams "disrespectful" Newcastle United link

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 14 September 2014

Hull City manager Steve Bruce says that rumours linking him to the Newcastle United position are "very disrespectful" to Magpies counterpart Alan Pardew.

Hull City manager Steve Bruce believes that the speculation linking him to the Newcastle United job is "very disrespectful" to Magpies boss Alan Pardew.

Pardew is reportedly on borrowed time in the North East following Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Southampton - a loss that leaves Newcastle bottom of the Premier League table.

Bruce has emerged as a candidate to replace the under-fire 53-year-old but, speaking to BBC Sport, the Hull coach says that he is focusing on Monday's clash with West Ham United.

"It isn't nice - it's a horrible Sunday morning for him and I find it very, very disrespectful that I'm linked with somebody else's job when he's still in a job.

"It's a hard enough job we've all got. We all know what it's like now in football management.

"That part of the game will never change, but for me at the moment I'm just concentrating on the game against West Ham [on Monday night] and leaving all that aside."

Pardew, who has a 37% win rate as United manager, replaced Chris Hughton at St James's Park in 2010.