Sunday, 14th September, 2014
Hull City manager Steve Bruce has distanced himself from speculation he is being lined up to succeed Alan Pardew at Newcastle United.
Pardew is under intense pressure at St. James' Park, with fans making fresh calls for his sacking following the Magpies' 4-0 crushing at Southampton yesterday.
And Bruce, who led Hull to the FA Cup final last season, has been tipped in some quarters as the man to replace Pardew.
The former Manchester United defender will not be drawn on that possibility however and has branded the speculation "disrespectful" while Pardew is in his post.
"I find it very disrespectful that I am linked with somebody else's job when he is still in the job", Bruce told BBC Radio 5 live.
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"I am just concentrating on our game against West Ham on Monday."
Bruce also explained he has sympathy for Pardew, having been in a similar situation at Sunderland.
"I'm like any other manager, when I see another manager under huge pressure like Alan is – and it was only a few years ago I was in the same sort of situation – it isn't nice.
"After what happened to me at Sunderland I know how difficult the north east is."
Newcastle have taken just two points from their opening four games and sit rock bottom of the Premier League table. They next face Bruce's Hull on Saturday at St. James' Park.
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