Dwight Gayle says Newcastle United training under Steve Bruce changed immediately after the takeover in 2021.
The 35-year-old played under three different managers at Newcastle United, after being signed by Rafa Benitez.
He was also with the Magpies during the Steve Bruce era, which coincided with PIF becoming the Newcastle United owners.
At the time of the takeover, Toon fans were desperate for a change of manager. Bruce was clearly not the man to take the club forward, and change was inevitable.
There were a lack of tactics under Bruce, but Dwight Gayle has revealed that the former Manchester United defender changed his methods in training after Mike Ashley’s £305million departure.
Photo by Owen Humphreys - Pool/Getty Images
Photo by Owen Humphreys – Pool/Getty Images
Dwight Gayle shares staggering Steve Bruce story
During an appearance on the Open Goal podcast, Gayle admitted that Bruce changed the way he was on the training pitch after the change of ownership at St James’ Park.
“He didn’t really do much on the training pitch,” he said.
“Then when the Saudi owners came in he stuck his boots on and a whistle. He was like if I’m going I’m going to run you into the ground or something like that.
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“We were doing some running drills and he’d be blowing his whistle. He’d make it into a little joke… ‘they’re over there watching’.”
The coach who ‘saved’ Newcastle United
Before the takeover that eventually resulted in Eddie Howe becoming the Newcastle United manager, Bruce relied heavily on his coaching staff.
He had Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence with him, but it was the arrival of Graeme Jones that made the biggest difference according to Gayle.
“They brought in Graeme Jones, who was decent,” he said.
“He’s very good. He saved us, to be fair.”
Jones’ impact at St James’ Park was clear for all to see. That is why he is still part of the Newcastle United coaching staff, despite Eddie Howe bringing his own team with him.
Jones is now part of Howe’s team, and it was great to see him celebrating with the Carabao Cup trophy on Sunday.
As well as being a Newcastle United coach, Jones is a boyhood fan. Like Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley, he is a local lad who has made history on Tyneside.
They will all still be on cloud nine after what happened at Wembley, with the Newcastle United players and staff set to get a fresh chance to celebrate winning the Carabao Cup with supporters at the Town Moor on March 29th.