Steve Bruce is back where he started in management but on the opposite side of the city’s divide, claiming his formative years at Sheffield United were too long ago to affect his new job with Wednesday.
“That was my first managerial job and this might be my last,” the former Sunderland and Birmingham manager said of his 10th club since retiring from playing. “Physically and emotionally I feel great. The club wanted me to start right away [a month ago, when the appointment was announced] but I explained the issues I had to the chairman and he understood.”
Bruce had promised his wife he would take a break from football following his sacking as the Aston Villa manager and the death of his parents last year, and has just returned from a month’s holiday in the Caribbean. He was criticised for not returning earlier by the television pundit Danny Murphy, who later apologised for not knowing the facts. “It doesn’t surprise me any more,” Bruce said. “People are very quick to criticise now, even if they don’t know the whole story.”
The former Manchester United captain had such an unhappy experience in his last job he admitted he had to think about whether he wanted to return to management. He found his enthusiasm returning once Wednesday got in touch, even though they presently languish in 17th place in the Championship.
“I thought long and hard about whether I wanted another job but when the phone call came I discovered I was ready to get back on the horse again,” the 58-year-old said. “When the call came [from the Wednesday chairman, Dejphon Chansiri] I thought, well, I have to go and meet the guy. He is an eccentric character but deep down he wants the club to do well. I think it’s all a bluff that he wants to sell it but with all its history, tradition and support it didn’t need much selling to me.”
Joking apart, Bruce had a couple of medical problems last year and had to reassure himself that taking charge of another sleeping giant in the Championship would not be bad for his health. “I had to have my knee washed out and a mole taken off my eye but I’ve had all the checks now, the full MOT if you like and I’m perfectly fine,” he said. “I’ve had a good overhaul and I’m ready to go.
“I admit I was uncertain about whether I wanted a 10th job but I never thought I’d be in a position like I was at Aston Villa, where we weren’t going to get paid on a Friday. That’s how bad it was, it all looks great from the outside, but after being there four months I was told I had to raise £25m, which we did, and still mount a play‑off challenge, which we did.
“After we lost the play-off final it became clear the state the club was in. It was difficult, because when your chief executive gets the sack, then your director of football, you can’t help but think you are going to be next. We had huge financial problems for months.”
Bruce accepts it will be hard to bridge the gap to the play-offs with Wednesday but he is willing to give it a try. “If I can get us up I won’t be going anywhere,” he said.
“Hopefully I’d like to stay here for three, four or five years and that’ll be enough. I still have the necessary drive and commitment, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could turn the club around and make the supporters happy again. This is a big club with all the bits and pieces to be in the Premier League, and that’s where we all want to take it.
“We’ve got a long road ahead but there are some good players here who have probably been underperforming. I asked the chairman about the budget and he said there isn’t one, so we all know where we stand. I know the club has been operating under financial fair play restrictions, but so were Villa. It’s difficult for big clubs in the Championship if they no longer receive parachute payments but hopefully I can bring my experience to bear and try to find ways of improving [us].
“It’s not always about money, we got Hull promoted with a collection of loans and waifs and strays. I can’t wait to get started, I’ve just been to meet the players and I don’t think I could have picked a colder day, especially coming back from the Caribbean. Even that was exciting though, I had butterflies. I feel like a young kid going to school again.”