Steve Bruce has confirmed that he's held talks with Newcastle about succeeding Rafa Benitez as manager at Saint James' Park.
The 58-year-old Sheffield Wednesday boss is the bookmakers' favourite to take over his boyhood club.
Bruce was confronted on the sideline by an Owls supporter during their 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Lincoln at Sincil Bank this afternoon.
That supporter was booed by his fellow fans in the away end, who chanted 'Steve Bruce's Barmy Army'.
After the game, the former Manchester United defender admitted that Newcastle are negotiating his release with Sheffield Wednesday.
"Speculation is speculation. It's in the hands of the club," he told the Sheffield Star.
"For me, at this particular moment, there is nothing really to talk about until the two clubs reach some sort of compromise.
"Look, it has happened so quickly that I have got to take stock of the situation.
"It's in the hands of both clubs and we will see what develops over the next 24 to 48 hours."
The Magpies are due to depart for the Premier League Asia Trophy in China tomorrow and are keen to have a manager in place for the tour.
Bruce has won promotion to the Premier League on four occasions during a managerial career which has taken him from Sheffield United to Huddersfield, Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Wigan, Sunderland, Hull and Aston Villa.
