STEVE BRUCE has reiterated his desire to “see things through” at Newcastle United – and expressed his hope that he will still be managing the club next season.

Bruce leads his Newcastle side back into action against Tottenham this weekend after a tumultuous two weeks that have seen mounting calls for his dismissal in the wake of last month’s 3-0 capitulation at Brighton.

Social media has been flooded with comments from supporters urging Mike Ashley to change manager, a group of supporters held a protest outside St James’ Park in the immediate aftermath of the Brighton defeat, and a poll conducted amongst fans revealed that 95 per cent of respondents felt Bruce should be sacked.

The manager is aware of the widespread discontent, which would almost be aired publicly were supporters allowed inside St James’ Park, but remains adamant he will not be walking away. Indeed, while Newcastle’s Premier League status continues to hang by a thread, Bruce is planning to still be in his current position come the start of next season.

“That’s (his future) for other people to decide,” said Bruce, ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Spurs. “I can only focus on the next nine games, which is what I’m going to be doing, and rely on that experience that I’ve drawn over the last 20-odd years. I’ll need it over this testing time.

“I’m determined to see it through. I’d hope that I’m still the manager of Newcastle next year, but that’s for others to decide.

“I never take anything in football for granted, and I realise that the performance against Brighton was simply not good enough. So, you have to accept people’s opinions and move on with it.

“Because we’re in a fight, the easy thing would be to walk away. But because we’re in a fight, and in the thick of it, the last thing I want to do is walk away. I’m determined to see it through, and that’s what I’ll try to do.”

In the immediate aftermath of the Brighton defeat, senior Newcastle sources were quick to brief that Ashley had thrown his wholehearted support behind Bruce.

The Newcastle owner does not want to change manager for a number of reasons – the ongoing uncertainty over the club’s future ownership, the £4m compensation payment that would be due to Bruce and his team, the fact that changing manager late in the season has twice resulted in relegation in the past – and while Ashley has not visited the training ground in person in the last two weeks, his stance has been conveyed to Bruce and his players.

“The owner hasn’t had to say anything at all really,” said the Magpies manager. “He sent his support to rally the troops and get behind everybody, but as I’ve said from day one, nothing has changed.

“I have an everyday rapport with the CEO (Lee Charnley), and that’s who I report to day in, day out. That’s the way it is and there’s been nothing different in that. Lee Charnley comes down to the training ground every day. He comes down all the time to see how things are. There’s nothing new or different, that’s the way it works.”

As well as preparing his side for the visit of Spurs in the last fortnight, Bruce has also been working with Newcastle's backroom team to tie up a couple of contractual situations.

Dwight Gayle is on the verge of signing a new three-year deal despite his lack of match action this season, while the Magpies are set to trigger a clause that will automatically extend Paul Dummett's current contract by another year.

"I believe we have an option to extend his (Dummett's) contract next year," confirmed Bruce.