Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson comments on Aston Villa’s decision to dismiss Steve Bruce last month.
Villa parted company with Bruce in the first week of October following a run of disappointing results in the Championship.
The Villans reached the final of the Championship playoff last season under Bruce, but the former Manchester United central defender could not make the same impact in the opening weeks of this season.
Bolton manager Parkinson has suggested that Villa were harsh to dismiss Bruce.
Parkinson told The Bolton News: “Obviously they got into the play-offs last year and there can be a hangover from that.
“I feel it was a bit harsh on Steve [Bruce] losing his job. If you look in history in previous seasons a team that loses the play-off final find the next season is always a struggle.”
James Chester comments
However, James Chester has suggested that Villa could not have turned around their fortunes under Bruce.
The 29-year-old Wales international central defender has been reflecting on the performances of the Villans under the 57-year-old.
The former Hull City star – who joined Villa from West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2016 for a transfer fee reported by The Daily Mail to be worth £9 million – has admitted that Bruce could not have changed the team’s results had he remained in charge of the Championship club.
Chester told Sky Sports about the dismissal of Bruce: “It was a shame because I played for him here and at Hull City for a long time.
“He’s done a lot for me on a personal level so it was hard to see him leave, and you almost feel that extra bit of responsibility having known him for so long.
“We started the season really well, definitely the best since I’ve been here. But then the odd decision or result didn’t quite go our way and the atmosphere around the club changed a little bit. It was probably too far for Steve to turn it around.”
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