UNCERTAINTY has enjoyed a permanent residence at Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United, but it has been particularly prominent during the last few weeks on Tyneside. 

Silence has been deafening at St James’ Park all summer, even before Rafael Benitez’s controversial departure at the end of June. Even now, with Steve Bruce’s appointment confirmed by the club this morning, the future is far from positive and far from predictable.

The most telling thing for many Newcastle supporters was the way the club communicated, via sources off the record, their pursuit of Bruce.