Newcastle United has been done a great boost as their target manager, Steve Bruce has presented his resignation papers as Sheffield Wednesday boss in a bid to speed up his switch to Newcastle.
The 58-year-old tendered his resignation letter on Monday morning and is expected to walk out with his assistants Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence.
This latest move is expected to pave the way to Bruce being at the helm at St James’s Park later this week while Wednesday have been demanding £5m compensation, with Newcastle only expecting to have to pay around £1m.
The deadlock between the two teams has delayed the switch and the Hillsborough club are playing hard-ball, leaving Bruce with little option but to walk out and demand a move himself.
It is the latest twist in a chaotic summer which has seen Newcastle fans at peak levels of frustration with owner Mike Ashley whom they have been demanding thrown out.
Newcastle saw Rafa Benitez walk away when his contract expired at the end of June, despite believing they could do a last-minute deal to keep him after he lifted the club from relegation to the Premier League.
The Magpies have also lost Salomon Rondon, last season’s top scorer, who is back at West Brom as well as Ayoze Perez, the second top scorer who has been sold to Leicester for £30m.
Bruce’s appointment has been met with widespread disappointment after a stellar list of candidates including Mikel Arteta, Patrick Vieira and Roberto Martinez turned United down.
It is believed that the fans are organising a boycott of the opening game against Arsenal and many claims to have cancelled their season tickets while Newcastle stands the only Premier League club yet to sign a player this summer.
Bruce is unlikely to be appointed in time to join United’s players in China this week before they play Wolves on Wednesday.