A bust up in Newcastle - Ritchie to Bruce: 'You are a coward'

When the threat of relegation is so serious that you can feel it, the problems are mounting and all potential conflicts are coming out, or bubbling inside, waiting to burst. Newcastle United is such a club. Owned by the billionaire who doesn’t get sports, but still doesn’t want to sell the club without making a serious profit, the Magpies are flirting with relegation ever since they came back from Championship in 2017. With mediocre players and with no wish to invest, they got the mediocre coach last season in the form of Steve Bruce.

After the reasonable start of the season, Magpies went into serious trouble with a terrible series of 12 defeats from their last 16 matches. And when the times are rough, the scuffle begins. According to Daily Mail, Steve Bruce and Matt Ritchie got into a serious bust-up at the training ground, with both men had to be separated.

It all started with Bruce’s comments after the Wolves match when he explained the Ritchie substitution that led to the guest's equalizer.

„Unfortunately Matt Ritchie didn't get it on quick enough, the instructions of how we were doing it. When you look at the goal, we should stop the cross. And when the goalkeeper looks at it, again probably he'll think 'Could I have done better?' There was a frustration for all of us but we'll have to concede that one and make sure our instructions, we'll do it from the sideline“ said Bruce at the presser after the match.

Obviously, Ritchie was annoyed and telephoned Bruce after the game and wanted to have the matter cleared. Bruce said he would speak to the player on the training ground on Tuesday. After the match on Saturday, the coach gave players an 48 hours rest. But the day after, Sky Sports pundit Jammie Carragher analyzed in detail the situation of the field prior to the Wolves' goal.

It is said this caused Ritchie further irritation and Bruce was mistaken for not clearing the air immediately after the match. Instead, after 48 hours, and Carragher’s TV analysis, things got worse. When assistant boss Steve Agnew was sent to the training pitch on Tuesday to tell Ritchie that Bruce was ready to see him in his office, the player refused and said he was not speaking to the 'coward' again. After that, Bruce emerged to confront Ritchie. The 60-year-old was allegedly infuriated by Ritchie calling him a 'coward' and said to him: 'After all, I've done for you.' Sources say, Ritchie, who was awarded a new contract last year, responded by saying: 'You've done f*** all for me,' before telling Bruce he was a 'coward' and that he was 'done' with him. Bruce is then understood to have said: 'What are you going to do? Tell Lee Charnley?' This is thought to be a reference to Bruce's suspicion that players have reported their unhappiness to the managing director.

Newcastle have refused to comment on details about the spat between Ritchie and Bruce, which is the first sight that something did happen, but sources say the club hopes the incident is now behind them. Chronicle Live wrote that Ritchie apologized to his team-mates and staff and after clear the air discussions in the last 24 hours, it has been agreed by all concerned to focus on the weekend trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Newcastle still in the relegation battle: The Magpies drew with Wolves

The Magpie fans reacted with anger towards Bruce, on whom they have a pick since he was appointed. The current manager is also the first on the list of the Premier League managers who will be sacked, with Jose Mourinho in the second place, followed by Roy Hodgson.

It has also been reported that when the story broke on Wednesday, several players contacted club officials to deny they wanted Bruce to be sacked. Others contacted Bruce directly. They have also denied mocking him in a player WhatsApp group and have dismissed the idea that they all want Jones to take charge of the team moving forward. Whatever the truth might be, a clearout will be needed in June. Either a number of players or the gaffer.