According to Sportsmail, several Newcastle United players want new assistant boss Graeme Jones to take charge of the club until the end of the season, believing he represents their best chance of avoiding relegation.

Most of the players reportedly neither trust or like head coach Steve Bruce, and there is growing resentment towards the Magpies boss in the dressing room.

The Newcastle boss suspects that players have reported their unhappiness to managing director Lee Charnley, and they have sided with Matt Ritchie after Bruce physically confronted and barged him at the training ground on Tuesday.

The winger was blamed by the Magpies head coach during his post-match interview for not getting his tactical instructions on quick enough about a formation switch prior to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ equaliser during the 1-1 draw last weekend, and that has left Ritchie furious.

Bruce also blamed Jamal Lewis, Martin Dubravka and Joelinton after the match, and his refusal to take all the responsibility by simply shifting the blame onto them has made the players unhappy.

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Jones, 50, joined Bruce’s backroom staff from Bournemouth in January, and he has been credited in some quarters for some of the minor improvements in recent Newcastle performances.

With just three points and a place above the relegation zone after 26 Premier League games, fans are scared that they could find themselves in the Championship next term, and it seems that a majority of the players agree.

They clearly no longer want Bruce to remain in charge and have lost faith in him.

It will be interesting to see what owner and chairman Mike Ashley thinks of that and the recent happenings on and off the pitch regarding Bruce, but the businessman will most likely ignore everything and wait until the end of the season before making any decisions.

In other news, a report has shared what will happen to Newcastle takeover if they are relegated.