Geordies hero Sir Bobby Robson says Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce is the only man capable of turning round Newcastle United.

In his column for the Mail on Sunday, Robson wrote: "I've made no secret of saying in the past that Steve Bruce, for example, would make an ideal Newcastle United manager. He knows the area, knows the club, and has learned the trade at clubs like Birmingham and Wigan, which has been a great education for taking on a bigger club.

"I don't know if Steve would want the job at the moment but the least Newcastle can do is create the atmosphere so that a fine, up-and-coming manager - and a Geordie one - would jump at the chance.

"At the moment, everything surrounding Newcastle would put first-class managers off. It has to change, and fast."