Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce understands he is viewed as inferior to Rafael Benitez by many fans but has promised to give it nothing but his best after taking charge of his boyhood club.
Bruce resigned as manager of Sheffield Wednesday and took charge at Newcastle this week, penning a three-year deal.
The departure of the hugely popular Benitez, a Champions League winner with Liverpool, to Chinese club Dalian Yifang, has prompted swathes of Newcastle fans to call for a boycott of the first game of the season against Arsenal at St James’ Park in protest at Mike Ashley’s continued ownership.
A reported 12,000 season tickets have been left unsold and the appointment of Bruce as Benitez’s successor was met with derision by many.
Despite the controversy, former Sunderland and Aston Villa boss Bruce was thrilled to be offered the chance to manage the club he grew up supporting, having rejected the job earlier in his career, and promised to do his best to fill the void left by Benitez.