Steve Bruce has ruled himself out of contention for the soon-to-be vacant Newcastle United job by insisting that he has unfinished business at Hull City.
The Newcastle-born manager had been tipped as a possible successor to Alan Pardew, who is expected to quit for Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
Speculation of a move to St James' Park is nothing new to Bruce, but the Tigers boss is determined to stay and guide the Lancashire club to safety this season if another offer to leave comes his way.
He told reporters: "People know that I am from Newcastle, I was a Newcastle supporter as a boy and it has been regurgitated since I was a 22-year-old playing for Norwich and Gillingham. For that obvious reason every time I am linked with them. It's very flattering as I'm a Geordie but that's it.
"I have a job to do here and it would be wrong for me to think of anything else other than get this club out of the position we are in and that's all I am focused on. It would be wrong for the speculation to keep carrying on for the club, for the supporters, for the players. I am determined to see this through and make sure we stay in the Premier League and build on the good work we have done in the last two-and-a-half years.
"I have had three offers in the two and a half years I have been here and I have turned them all down so I think the chairman knows the way I feel and why would I want to leave now? It's not right, and I hope people respect that. I have got a job to do here, it would be very difficult for us to uproot and I don't think that would be fair."
Reports this morning claimed that neither Bruce, Tony Pulis nor Tim Sherwood were ever under consideration for the potential vacancy, but caretaker boss and Magpies assistant John Carver is in the running.
Joe Fish
