A Newcastle United supporter's group has described Watford head coach Javi Gracia as "young, promising and forward-thinking" after it was announced Steve Bruce would take charge on Tyneside.

The statement released by several fan groups hailed the Hornets' managerial appointment as a progressive move and described their own latest managerial appointment as "unambitious".

Bruce was announced as Newcastle manager on Wednesday morning following the departure of Rafael Benitez, who has since joined Dalian Yifang in China.

The Magpies remain the only Premier League club yet to spend any money in the transfer window, despite losing their two top scorers from last season in Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez.

A group of nine Newcastle fan groups joined together to release the statement to let the club's owner Mike Ashley know how they felt about both their new manager and the way the club is being run.

It reads: "Most Premier League clubs look to the continent or lower divisions for young, promising, forward-thinking managers in the mould of Pochettino, Gracia and Santo - who bring a new brand of football to a highly-competitive league.

"In Bruce, Mike Ashley has opted for a manager who has been relegated from the league numerous times - he isn't even a safe pair of hands."

Steve Bruce has the lowest win percentage in the Premier League for managers who have been in charge for more than 250 games, claiming victories in just 28 per cent of matches.

He has been relegated from the Premier League twice, with Birmingham City and Hull City.