Steve Bruce gives fresh Newcastle United takeover update

Steve Bruce says the Saudi takeover of Newcastle is “dead in the water” – and he will guide Newcastle through “the storm”.

The United boss emerged from a day with owner Mike Ashley this week convinced the failed Saudi funded deal would have “catapulted” Newcastle into the top six.

But the latest effort to break the deadlock with the Premier League has flopped and Bruce has called for the “uncertainty” to end.

He reckons Newcastle are “stronger” than last season and ready to push up the table.

Bruce explained: “Mike wants the best for the club. It could only benefit the club, take the club into a different… compete at the top end, top six.

“It catapults you into a different scenario. But it looks like it is dead in the water.

“But it doesn’t look as if it has happened. For me it is business as usual. From 12 months ago we are better, the squad is stronger.

“Newcastle is always in a storm! We are working our way through it.

“There has been uncertainty.”

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Bruce says Ashley has “flexed his muscles” this week to land three new signings, and hit out at the Premier League in a controversial statement.

He added: “The owner wanted to come and meet his new players this week. He comes up once in a while and takes everyone out to dinner.

“Sometimes the manager needs help and over the last week he has flexed his muscles a bit which was good to see. He is the boss, the owner. We went out to dinner. It was great.

“It is important (to have a relationship with Ashley). Most important is the manager and the CEO. There is nothing like needing help like we did last week, then three our four walk through the door like we have got.”

The club has handed Isaac Hayden a new six year contract – a year after the midfielder wanted to quit Tyneside.

Hayden committed the majority of his career to Newcastle yesterday after overcoming family worries after the that came close to his finding a new club in the south.

Keeper Karl Darlow, who will play against West Ham tomorrow because Martin Dubravka is injured, also signed a five year contract extension.