Simon Jordan admits that Steve Bruce has been left questioning his own sanity as the former Newcastle United boss plots a return to management with West Bromwich Albion, speaking to talkSPORT.
You’d be hard pressed to find someone in football who’s had a tougher couple of years than Steve Bruce.
At Aston Villa, the Geordie gaffer was forced to contend with horrendous off-the-pitch issues, the threat of administration, play-off final heartbreak and his own ‘fans’ lobbing cabbages at the back of his head.
If that sounds bad, things would get even worse at Newcastle United.
And, make no mistake, Bruce will be under serious pressure from the get-go at West Brom. And not just because the 61-year-old has two of the Baggies’ greatest rivals – Aston Villa and Birmingham City – on his CV.
“I sent him a text this morning saying ‘are you bloody mad?’ And he said ‘yeah, I think I am’,” says Jordan.
The former Crystal Palace chairman worked with Bruce at Selhurst Park back in 2001.
“Not in terms of taking the job of West Brom, but getting back into the mix after such a difficult time at Newcastle,” Jordan adds.
Will Steve Bruce secure a third promotion at West Brom?
Bruce arrives with a proven track record in the second tier.
He might not have achieved promotion with Aston Villa. But he did take them to within 90 minutes of the Promised Land. Bruce also navigating in guiding both Birmingham and Hull out of the second-tier.
He will be expecting to make it trio of promotions at the Hawthorns.
“I think he will get them into a situation where they are more competitive,” Jordan explains.
“I liked Valerien Ismael and I’m surprised it went the way it did.
“When I had (Bruce) at Palace, he was a very forward-thinking manager who wanted to play a very ambitious and attacking brand of football because we had the players to do it at the time.
“West Brom have the players to do that, so we will see if that proves to be the case.
“I think it will be a decent appointment for them. He will get them closer to what they want to be than their current situation.”
Ismael received his P45 this week following a dreadful run of six wins in 19 games.
Supporters will not only demand an upturn in results under Bruce. They will also expect a more free-flowing, easy-on-the-eye style of football.
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