Championship hopefuls Aston Villa appointed Bruce amid controversy and questions would be asked if ex-Wolves boss McCarthy rocked up at West Brom.
Mick McCarthy might have spent six years as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, even winning the Championship title in 2009, but do not expect those allegiances to stop him taking over at Midland rivals West Bromwich Albion should the job be offered.
The 59-year-old will leave Ipswich Town at the end of this season and has been linked with the vacant managerial role at The Hawthorns ever since the Baggies parted company with Alan Pardew.
West Brom is in free fall right now and are bottom of the Premier League and ten points from safety. After a disastrous season, and the awful decision to hire Pardew, the owners are understandably concerned that appointing a former Wolves boss would not necessarily be a good PR move.
Sky claims, however, that McCarthy believes he can overcome this hurdle, and has pointed to the success his close friend Steve Bruce is enjoying at Aston Villa right now despite previously working for Midlands rivals Birmingham City for six years.
There was scepticism among some sections of the Villa support when Bruce was appointed in October 2016 but all will be forgiven if he leads them back to the Premier League.
If McCarthy can have a similar impact at West Brom, do not expect the fans to be fretting too much about the other clubs on his CV.
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