Paul Robinson believes his former England team-mates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard ought to be high on the shortlist to become the next Newcastle United manager if the club’s new owners decide to cut ties with current boss Steve Bruce.
The under-pressure incumbent oversaw a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the first game since the Magpies were taken over by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, leaving Newcastle in 19th spot after eight rounds of the Premier League season.
And with Bruce seemingly inching ever closer to the exit door, Robinson has told Betfred that Rangers boss Gerrard and former Chelsea and Derby County manager Lampard should be seriously considered among the candidates to replace the 60-year-old in the St James’ Park hotseat.
“In my opinion it’s got to be someone like Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard,” the ex-Three Lions keeper explained. “Those two have shown their credentials, Steven especially at Rangers.”
Gerrard is currently in his fourth season at Rangers, with whom he won the Scottish Premiership with an unbeaten record in 2020-21. And while many have identified him as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in time, Robinson says the Newcastle job could be perfect for him if he’s given certain resources and assurances.
“If you bring Steven Gerrard in with someone with a lot of experience alongside him, let him develop with the club, let him grow with the club, then if they lose two or three games the manager isn’t looking over his shoulder, he needs to know that there’s a long-term plan, a long-term project,” he added.
“[He’d know] you’re going to get these players in January, you’re going to get these players in the summer, and I’m still going to be in a job in 24 months’ time, and this is where we’re going and how we’re going to develop. This is the best way forward for Newcastle.”
The former Leeds United, Tottenham and Blackburn Rovers shot-stopper says it’s high time that Newcastle’s fans were given some reward for having stuck by their team for so long despite so many setbacks on and off the field.
“They’ve had so many false dawns and so many false promises as Newcastle fans,” Robinson continued. “They’ve been promised this takeover, that takeover, so much investment that has never come to fruition, and actually if you look at Newcastle from the outside looking in you think it’s a proper football club.
“The supporters there are incredible, it was always one of my favourite away grounds to play at and the lack of success that that club’s had over the years doesn’t go with the stadium and the supporters. The level of investment they’ve got there is phenomenal, but the first thing they’ve got to do is stay up though.”
Newcastle are priced at 2/1 to be relegated by Betfred.