Simon Jordan defends Steve Bruce for Aston Villa reign, expects him to improve West Brom
Simon Jordan has provided “behind the scenes” knowledge of Steve Bruce at Aston Villa as he backed the new West Brom boss to improve the side.
The recently announced new Baggies manager briefly worked under the ex-Crystal Palace chairman when they were both at the South London club, and fell out over Bruce’s departure.
But Jordan still believes the man who replaced Valerien Ismael on Thursday (February 3) is unfairly denigrated and will do a solid job at the Hawthorns.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Friday (February 4, 10.25am) the pundit said: “People give him a lot of stick for Aston Villa, they say ‘he was dreadful and look what Dean Smith did’.
“Let me tell you, I looked at that club. I looked at buying that club with a consortium. I saw what was behind the scenes when that club got relegated.
“They were in a dreadful mess, financially, player-wise, it took a long time to get it stabilised and with respect to Steve, whilst he went out the door with people vilifying him, Dean Smith took the benefit of the platform [Bruce built].
“Going into West Brom… I think it’s a sensible choice”.
He expects Bruce to get the Baggies into the playoffs, with automatic promotion too much of an ask considering they “aren’t a great side”.
Misunderstood
The former Newcastle manager takes a lot of criticism from some quarters while being relatively popular among others.
His propensity to jump from job to job and cross rivalries does open him up for criticism, and in fact lead to the falling out between him and his former employer Jordan at Palace.
Bruce attempted to resign in order to take the Birmingham job but it was rejected and he was suspended, with the case eventually going to the High Court before he took charge at St. Andrew’s (BBC).
With that in mind it might be expected that the talkSPORT man would be talking down the ex-Sunderland boss.
But his inside knowledge makes the defence carry some weight, regarding a situation where a supporter infamously threw a cabbage at Bruce before he was eventually sacked from Villa Park (BBC).
In other West Brom news, the new boss reportedly wants free agents brought in at the Hawthorns.