Steve Bruce was called a ‘coward’ by Matt Ritchie during a heated bust-up at Newcastle United’s training ground, according to reports.
Bruce publicly criticised Ritchie over his failure to pass on instructions to his teammates before Wolves’ goal in the 1-1 draw at St James’ Park on Saturday.
‘The instructions Matty didn’t get on to the team quick enough on how we were doing it,’ Bruce said after the game.
‘When you look at the goal, we should have stopped the cross and when the ‘keeper looks at it, could he have done better?’
According to MailOnline, Ritchie was furious with Bruce’s criticism and demanded an explanation from the Newcastle manager following the match.
But after being summoned to Bruce’s office on Tuesday, Ritchie refused to meet with the Newcastle boss and called him a ‘coward’.
The report alleges that Bruce shoulder barged Ritchie and said to the midfielder: ‘After all I’ve done for you.’
Ritchie’s alleged response to Bruce was: ‘You’ve done f*** all for me.’
The report claims that Bruce believes Newcastle’s players have been speaking about their unhappiness to the club’s managing director Lee Charnley.
It’s also alleged that several players in the Newcastle squad want assistant manager Graeme Jones to take over from Bruce until the end of the season.
Ritchie reportedly apologised to the players and Newcastle’s coaching staff at the training on Wednesday.
Newcastle are currently three points clear of safety and are due to play West Brom on Sunday.
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