Steve Bruce considers retirement after being sacked by Newcastle

LONDON - Newcastle United has sacked Steve Bruce from his position as manager following just over two seasons in charge of the club form the north-east of England.

Bruce had expected to be sacked almost immediately in the wake of the Saudi takeover of the club on October 7th, but clung on for a few days more and was in charge for Sunday's 3-2 defeat at home to Tottenham which leaves them second from bottom of the Premier League without a win in its first eight games of the season.

The 60-year-old's first two seasons in charge saw Newcastle finish 13th and 12th in the table without being drawn into a battle to avoid relegation.

The club has confirmed it has already begun to search for a replacement with former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca thought to be the early favorite, although Graeme Jones will be in temporary charge for Saturday's game away to Crystal Palace.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph newspaper after his leave had been confirmed, Bruce commented that he was considering retiring from management after a coaching career dating back to 1998.

"I think this might be my last job. It's not just about me; it's taken its toll on my whole family because they are all Geordies (from Newcastle) and I can't ignore that."

Despite being a boyhood Newcastle fan, Bruce was never accepted by the club's fans, partly because he spent most of his playing days with Manchester United and also because he had a spell coaching bitter local rivals Sunderland.

"It has been very, very tough. To never really be wanted, to feel that people wanted me to fail and saying I would fail, that I was useless, a fat waste of space, a tactically inept cabbage head," he commented, adding that his family, his wife especially "have been worried about me."

"I'm 60 years old and I don't know if I want to put her through it again. We've got a good life so, yeah, this will probably be me done as a manager," added Bruce.