EXCLUSIVE
Former Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has declared he was the 'victim' at St James' Park as his dream job quickly turned into a nightmare.
The ex-Manchester United skipper was in charge of his boyhood club from July 2019-October 2021, where he was sacked following the club's Saudi takeover.
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Bruce, who previously managed the Magpies' bitter rivals Sunderland, was never fully accepted by the Newcastle faithful, with fans desperate for him to leave.
And they got their wish eight matches into the 2021/22 season, with Bruce axed just days after he took charge of his 1,000th game in management.
Still, Bruce looks back on his time at his beloved side with fond memories - despite claiming financial difficulties and other aspects impacted his role.
Reflecting on his 'difficult time' during his appearance on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, Bruce said: "Look, I managed Newcastle for two-and-a-half years.
"And it wasn't easy, the pandemic going on as well, that didn't help either, but it was a different Newcastle to what it is today.
"I think finishing 12th and 13th, you did your job, as Newcastle then, the remit was, 'Keep Newcastle in the Premier League.'"
He later added: "I absolutely adored the job, I loved coming to work even though it was during Covid, it was difficult, and I just think I was the victim.
"It's a bit like when I managed Sunderland, I said, 'In ten years' time they will look back and think that fella did an all right job'.
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"My remit was, I had just got in after Rafa [Rafael Benitez] who finished 12th, we lost [Aleksandar] Mitrovic [to Fulham] and [Ayoze Perez] who went to Leicester.
"So we lost the two strikers and the remit was to just keep Newcastle [in the league]. We weren't a great watch, I understand that, too.
Simon Jordan questions Amanda Staveley for her recent comments on former Newcastle manager Steve Bruce
"[Newcastle today] are full of life - we didn't have a team to play like that and I knew that's what the fans wanted, but we didn't have a team.
"I would like to think we were very well organised, difficult to beat and play against.
"I really enjoyed it, it became tough, of course, but I think I was the victim of the whole club at the time were desperate for the takeover.
"We talk about FFP, the club would never be in any distress under Mike Ashley.
"It was a greatly run club under Mike, and I know I'm going to get slaughtered for that, but it was.
"The big thing is, we never had a lot of money to spent, we would spend exactly what the club generated and of course that was never going to be enough to be successful."
Bruce, who hasn't managed since parting ways with West Brom in October 2022, then opened up on when he may return to the dugout.
It comes amid rumours linking him with South Korea's national team job, where he said: "Is international management maybe something I would look at? Yes.
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"I would do, and to be fair, South Korea have got a hell of a good team at the moment and all the rest of it.
"However, I believe they have appointed an interim [Hwang Sun-hong], so I'm not against anything, but my missus might have something to say to me if I go South Korea!"
And he then ruled out ever managing the Red Devils when asked whether he dreamed of leading out the Old Trafford outfit.
He remarked: "Any manager [would have]. It's got to be the pinnacle, hasn't it?
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"It's a wonderful, great footballing club, but I don't think that's going to happen - unfortunately."
Listen to the talkSPORT Breakfast Show every weekday from 6am