GRAEME JONES will take charge of Newcastle United’s next two matches as the club’s new owners continue their search for a permanent successor to Steve Bruce, and has had “assurances” from Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi over his own long-term position.

Jones will preside over his first game since being appointed as interim manager when Newcastle travel to Crystal Palace tomorrow afternoon, and has been told he will remain in charge for next weekend’s home game with Chelsea.

Staveley and her advisors have begun the process of recruiting Bruce’s permanent replacement, with an initial round of talks having taken place with former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca.

Discussions with at least two alternative candidates are scheduled for next week, with the new Newcastle hierarchy determined to explore a range of different options before taking their first key decision since taking over from Mike Ashley.

The ownership team are mindful of the potential for off-field uncertainties to have a negative impact on the pitch, and have therefore opted to keep Jones in place for at least the next two matches in order to create as much stability as possible in the run-up to the Chelsea game.

They have also told Jones that whatever happens in the next few weeks, he will be involved as part of the new management set-up in a coaching capacity.

“I spoke to the owners on Wednesday morning,” said Jones. “They’ve asked me to take the team for the next two games on an interim basis. I’m fully focused on preparing the team to be as competitive as we can in both games.

“I’ve had assurances. I’ve spoken to Mehrdad and I’ve spoken to Amanda, and I’ve had assurances on my long-term future. But my short-term process is only on what I can affect – and that’s this game (against Palace) and next Saturday.

“I think it’s important for everybody going forward that I’m at the football club and I can give my genuine, honest, best help I possibly can in order to move the club forward. That’s what I’m going to continue to do in whatever role I’m given, starting at Crystal Palace.”

Jones, who refused to be drawn on whether he would be like to be considered for a permanent managerial position with his hometown club, learned of Bruce’s departure as it was unfolding on Wednesday morning.

Bruce encouraged him to leave Bournemouth in order to take on the role of first-team coach at Newcastle in January, and while there were initially suggestions of friction between the pair, the reality is that they were extremely close.

“I had an excellent relationship in every aspect, both personally and professionally with (Bruce),” said Jones. “It was a feeling of upset (on Wednesday) if I’m being honest because I had a great working relationship with Steve.

“He’s a good man. You never want to be in and around that in football because it means it hasn’t worked, so on Wednesday, it was difficult. We know the speed of football and how quickly you have to move on though. The focus quickly changed in terms of positivity and getting the boys ready tactically.”

Given that Jones was an integral part of Bruce’s backroom unit, it will be interesting to see whether he makes tactical or personnel changes tomorrow afternoon.

He was keeping his cards close to his chest today, although his suggestion that some players had ‘played their way out of the team’ on the training ground this week suggests at least some tweaks could be in the offing.

“Obviously, I’m not going to disclose shape or personnel,” he said. “But over the last three days, all the players have had the same experience tactically, both on and off the ball. Whatever team I pick, they’ll all know their jobs.

“I spoke to the players on Wednesday, after it was announced, and told them it’s a clean slate. ‘Everything that’s gone on before, we start again, I’ll assess you on your actions in the next three days’. Football makes the decisions, not me, I’m just the executor of those decisions. The line-up and tactics will be based on the interpretation of that. The players have picked themselves – or not in some cases.”