... Sunderland three years ago, but as a Geordie and boyhood Newcastle fan, has is sure to be touted as a possible successor to Alan Pardew.
Steve Bruce: "I know what he's going through after being in the North East and it's not easy. It's not an easy place to manage.
"We all understand it's a results-based business but some of the nonsense that goes with it, I have to say, is ridiculous.
"Unfortunately with the way social media is and the way the media is there is a huge appetite for what we call nonsense.
"It comes with the territory, but you have to say in the North East it seems to quadruple: when there's a crisis, there's a crisis, and I suppose that comes from the huge support they have got.
"It's a difficult, difficult place to manage. But we have to try and take advantage of that, of course we do. We have to be mercenary enough to try and do that.
"The other stuff is not enjoyable to watch from afar. Over the years he's done a decent job has Alan but I think that's the nature of the beast, especially in the North East, and I can say that because I'm from there.
"I was appalled when I read I was linked with Newcastle, all that nonsense, but what can I do about it? I've done my best to try and calm the whole situation.
"It seems to be because I'm a Geordie, that every time the job comes up since 2002 I'm linked with it because I'm from there and it's the team I supported as a boy.
"That will never change, but as for all the other nonsense I find it hugely disrespectful."