West Brom boss Steve Bruce points to summer rebuild as he aims to ‘wheel and deal’ in hope of Premier League Return
Steve Bruce believes his West Brom squad needs a major overhaul in the summer if they are to have any chance of returning to the top flight of English football.
The Baggies currently sit in 13th position in the bottom half of the Championship after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Coventry.
Bruce is confident that he has the ability and experience to build a strong Championship squad for next season.
Speaking to the Express & Star, Bruce commented: “I was in a similar position to this one down the road at Aston Villa. It needed a major rebuild and we went on to lose the play-off final.
“You have got to wheel and deal and I’d like to think I’ve got the experience to get that across. I always have enjoyed it and that is probably why I am here. It’s what I’ve done for the past 20-years and I’m quietly confident that we can do it.
“We have got great support, it’s a great club with a fiercely loyal fan base which is something to build on and I’m determined to give them a team they can associate with and which they come and enjoy watching.
“Not everyone is going to go and let’s be fair we have still got some good players for this division here but the club needs to be freshened up. There is a lot that have been here for a long time and I think the supporters want to see some new faces more than anything.”
Make or break
Bruce will need to get his recruitment spot on in the summer, with some fans already unhappy with the former Birmingham and Aston Villa manager.
West Brom are set to record their lowest league position in two decades and much improvement will be needed if they are to challenge for even a Play-Off spot, let alone automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
The Championship is a very difficult league to get out of, and the experienced Bruce will know that he will need a mix of young emerging talent as well as those with the know-how who have been there and done it in the division.
The Baggies have already completed a deal to sign Republic of Ireland international Jayson Molumby [Birmingham Live], but Bruce is going to need another five or six players in to mount a promotion push.
It looks like it will be a revolving door at The Hawthorns this summer.
In other West Brom news, the club are chasing a replacement for exiting Baggie from Premier League giant.