Steve Bruce, the former Sunderland manager, has revealed he believes he could have turned things around for the Black Cats had he been given more time.
The English manager was sacked in November and was replaced by former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill. The mid-season switch was caused by Sunderland struggling in the Premier League and their highly disappointing start to the new season.
While Bruce admitted he was disappointed with having been sacked mid-season, he urged Martin O’Neill to do better at the club. He revealed it had not been easy and he was not happy with the way things had gone down at the club.
Bruce said in an interview:
"It is never easy when you get the sack, especially when it's a public sacking of course.
It is unfortunate the way it went and I am disappointed we didn't get a bit longer but all managers are going to say that I suppose.”
According to Bruce, he felt he could have done better if he had been given more time by the management at the club. Unfortunately for him though, time had run out and the Black Cats owner and had decided to make changes at the club.
The former Wigan Athletic manager revealed he felt he had done well with Sunderland in the past season, helping them to a tenth place finish on the table. After that and a whole lot of spending in the summer transfer window, Bruce’s reign at the club seemed
to be brought to an abrupt end with the unexpected and rather public sacking.
He revealed:
“We finished tenth last year which was a decent finish for them and we made many, many changes and with changes you need time and unfortunately it didn't go our way and the crowd got impatient and we know the way football is that is the disappointing
thing.”
As for Martin O’Neill, Bruce wished his successor the best of luck taking up his post. He believed the Northern Irish manager had inherited a good, quality squad and would go on to do well in the remainder of the Premier League season.
Bruce concluded:
“They are a good squad of players, decent lads and Martin has inherited a decent squad.
Martin has done remarkably well which I knew he would do and I wish them well.”
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