Sky Sports reporter reacts to ‘extraordinary story’ of Steve Bruce becoming West Brom manager
Steve Bruce has been named the new West Brom manager, replacing Valerien Ismael, in an “extraordinary story” according to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett.
The former Newcastle boss has been given an 18-month contract at the Hawthorns and brings with him his son Alex to be part of his backroom staff.
Reacting live on Sky Sports to the breaking news in a clip posted to the broadcaster’s Twitter page, reporter Rob Dorsett said: “This is an extraordinary story. Let’s try and put this into context shall we?
“Just over three months ago Steve Bruce was sacked by Newcastle and looked a broken man. He spoke back then of just how hurt he’d been by the way he felt he’d been treated by some Newcastle supporters, the abuse he’d received.
“He said then that it was doubtful that he would go into football management again.”
He then reported the new manager’s own words, with Bruce saying: “I did not envisage I would return to management this quickly, but once I’d got the phone call from Ron [Gourlay], I knew I could not resist the challenge.
“I am coming in with one aim, and that is to get Albion to the Premier League.”
Personal U-turn
In some ways the former Birmingham City and Aston Villa manager appears to be a glutton for punishment as he has once again stepped into a club having previously managed their bitter rivals.
He will likely need to succeed in his sole aim if he is to win over the Baggies fans who are already unhappy with how the reign of sacked boss Ismael went.
With the club on the brink of wasting their good start to the season and dropping out of the playoff places the new CEO Gourlay appears to have hit the Championship emergency button.
Bruce has a reputation as a promotion specialist from the division, having done so on four previous occasions across his time with Birmingham and Hull City.
Abuse and threats to his family is unacceptable however he does at the Hawthorns so even if his football and his results are not what the fans want, it is important that the situation from his previous job does not reoccur.
In other West Brom news, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook says the club have Championship rivals on notice with their Steve Bruce talks.