Sources: Newcastle faced with even bigger bill if Bruce keeps team up and then sacked
Steve Bruce will be entitled to an even bigger pay-off if he keeps Newcastle United up and is then sacked, Football Insider has learned.
The under-fire United manager, 60, would land a guaranteed £4million payment if he was dismissed now or before the club's fate this season is determined.
A Newcastle source has told Football Insider that it is written into Bruce's contract that the potential pay-off rises for each season that he oversees Premier League survival.
Should the north-east giants avoid relegation for a second consecutive season under Bruce then he will receive "considerably more than £4m" if he is subsequently dismissed.
Newcastle executives led by owner Mike Ashley agreed to the clause as the club's whole business model is based on Premier League survival.
Bruce's future has been a massive talking point since the 3-0 defeat to Brighton before the international break.
The club have briefed the media that the manager's job is safe despite virtual unanimous calls from supporters for him to be sacked.
The source explained that Bruce has no intention of walking away from the job.
He will continue to stand his ground and try to arrest a decline that leaves the club's top-flight status hanging by a thread.
This comes amid a backdrop of dressing room mutiny and divisions that have continued to escalate during the international break.
Football Insider revealed last Saturday that several senior players are extremely unhappy with the criticism towards them from Miguel Almiron and that has poured further petrol on already heated situation.
Bruce's faces a mammoth task to get the senior players back on board and ease the simmering unrest.