Kevin Phillips: ‘Fan power’ will determine whether West Brom board keep Steve Bruce in summer

We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…

Kevin Phillips has insisted that “fan power” will determine whether or not the West Brom board stick with Steve Bruce next season.

The ex-Baggies talisman admitted that Bruce has the quality to do so, but believes that things haven’t quite worked out as of yet.

Alan Nixon has reported [10 April, Patreon] that both the club and Bruce have one week in June where they can utilise a break clause.

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“It’s a difficult one to comment on,” he exclusively told West Brom News.

“It hasn’t quite worked out, it’s been a frustrating time for him because you see his side beat Bournemouth and then they lose the way they did against Stoke, you think they couldn’t follow it up.

“I’d back him to still be there, but from fan power, depending on how they finish the season in the remaining fixtures will probably determine what the board will do whether they take that up or not. He’s certainly got the qualities to do the job.”

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Big summer ahead.

This could very much turn into a make-or-break summer.

We very much doubt that big money will want to be spent bringing in a new manager after the failure of Valerien Ismael.

That could put the ball in the court of Bruce, who would cost nothing to keep apart from his wages that are already being paid.

Will fans accept that? The next month of fixtures may decide that.

In other West Brom news, Steve Bruce has held talks over new Baggies signing since arriving with a work permit update shared

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