STEVE BRUCE is still clinging to his job as Newcastle United manager despite Brendan Rodgers and Frank Lampard both being strongly touted as his potential replacement.

Bruce took charge of training as normal at the Magpies’ Little Benton base this morning, having met new director Amanda Staveley for the first time since last week’s takeover on Monday.

It is still anticipated that Bruce will be relieved of his duties ahead of Sunday’s home game with Tottenham, with the new regime mindful of the negative impact that his presence in the dug-out could have. Prior to last week’s takeover, a poll of Newcastle supporters found that almost 95 per cent were in favour of Bruce’s dismissal.

The 60-year-old is set to receive a pay-off of around £7m if he is removed from his position, and it is understood that Staveley and her fellow director, Jamie Reuben, are currently considering the financial and practical technicalities of changing manager. Any final decision will also have to be ratified by the Saudi Arabian PIF, which is now Newcastle’s majority owner.

Graeme Jones is available to step up in a temporary caretaker position, but the new regime are understood to be keen to have a long-term plan in place, with a new permanent manager all-but-guaranteed, before they make a move over Bruce’s position.

Rodgers and Lampard currently top the bookmakers’ markets for Bruce’s successor, along with former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre.

A move for either Favre or Lampard would be the easiest to enact, as the pair are both currently out of employment.

However, Rodgers, who would be difficult to prise from Leicester, is understood to be a popular candidate amongst the group that will be making the key footballing decisions until a new sporting director is in place.