Newcastle fans proven right over Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce criticism

Can we nail once and for all the ridiculous thought held by 'Those Who Know Nought' outside of Tyneside's heartland that devotees of Newcastle United were somehow cruel in their assessment of the last regime.

We were repeatedly told by so-called celebrity punters that we ought to be grateful for Mike Ashley's tight fisted rule because at least the books balanced if they team more certainly did not.

Geordies should be careful what they wished for we were informed amid rather dark undertones.

Equally many seduced by a 'nice guy' image swarmed to the defence of Steve Bruce pointing out that in fact he had worked miracles as opposed to produced stifling, negative football.

However, his comeback record at West Brom has served to kill the presumption that it was only the negative attitude of Newcastle fans that tarnished what he was manfully trying to do.

Bruce sucked the life out of every Geordie's bones while telling all he was one of us.

The other reality of course was that Ashley took Newcastle down twice and made virtually each campaign a perpetual fight against relegation.

Neither have been gone long yet already the fragrant wind of change has wafted down the corridors of SJP.

Eddie Howe has got players we were regularly told could only survive with a mass defence actually playing on the front foot. He has got them fit, which doesn't require a huge influx of cash, has restored confidence and pride, and reawakened players like Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey, Ryan Fraser, and Fabian Schar whose personal standing was lower than a snake's belly.

Meanwhile Bruce has failed to win a solitary single match all season - he never managed one victory in nine attempts with United (three draws and six defeats) nor has he tasted success in