IT has been a truly surreal week in the world of Newcastle United, but perhaps the strangest scene was saved for last. From the moment Amanda Staveley breezed into St James’ Park as the club’s new director, we were being told that Steve Bruce’s days were numbered. Yet there we were yesterday, two days out from the first game of the brave new era, and Bruce was holding court on Zoom, touting for the chance to hold on to his position and preparing for his 1,000th game in management. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Assuming, as still seems likely, that Bruce is moved aside relatively quickly, it can be argued that the decision not to dismiss him ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Tottenham is an error. Why sour what should be a celebratory occasion by retaining a manager who is so unpopular that a recent fans’ poll revealed that almost 95 per cent of supporters want his removal? If Newcastle fall behind tomorrow, how long will it be before chants of “We want Bruce out” ring around St James’ Park?

Yet at the same time, it was impossible to be involved in Bruce’s press conference yesterday and not feel a degree of grudging respect towards the 60-year-old for his resilience and sheer bloody-minded refusal to be cowed or browbeaten.

This cannot have been an easy week for Bruce, who has spoken eloquently in the past about the horrendous social-media abuse he and his family have been subjected to throughout his reign. For all his managerial failings, he remains a decent human being, trying his best in testing circumstances.

So, while his performance in front of his laptop yesterday might be one of his final acts as Newcastle boss, it was also one of his most impressive. He came across as humble, honest and heartfelt, and that certainly hasn’t always been the case during his two-and-a-half years as Magpies manager.

Having been forced to read a series of stories – including in this newspaper – predicting his demise, he felt the time was right to turn the tables. “I hope you’re all feeling the heat from your bosses,” he said. “Because it (his sacking) hasn’t happened, has it? Let’s hope you’re getting some stick from the people who put you in charge of whatever you’re doing.” Some supporters felt the gibes were unnecessary. A personal view is that if you’re going to criticise and comment, you’ve got to be prepared to take it in the other direction. Bruce was entitled to have his say.

He was more interesting when it came to Newcastle’s future direction, and the potential for transformative change over the course of the next few years. Bruce knows the takeover could signal the end of his tenure, yet as a boyhood Newcastle fan, who used to attend St James’ Park with his father, his excitement at what might be around the corner seemed genuine.

“It’s a great thing for the club of Newcastle, and for the city too,” he said. “I’ve seen the transformation of Manchester (since Manchester City was taken over by a group from Abu Dhabi), and not just for the football club, but also for the city too. I hope for the area, the people and the supporters that it’s exciting times ahead.”

Bruce held a ten-minute discussion with Staveley and her husband, Mehrdad Godoussi, on Monday, and while their chat remained relatively informal, he heard enough to suggest the sky is the limit when it comes to Newcastle’s ability to compete in the upper echelons of the Premier League in the future. Not, however, that he expects the changes to be immediate.

“I think we’re all going to have to be patient,” said Bruce. “It’s not going to just happen and transform overnight. These things take time, but I think what we’re all excited about is to now have the opportunity to go and mix with the best in the Premier League, which we haven’t been doing for a number of years now.”

As Bruce would privately acknowledge, the last few years on Mike Ashley’s watch have been tortuous to endure. Better times lie ahead. Although it still remains to be seen whether the current manager will be a part of them.