Steve Bruce wants to see Birmingham City prosper
STEVE Bruce’s last Blues game as manager was the 2-1 defeat at home to Villa on November 11, 2007.After five years and 11 months in charge – making him the club’s longest-serving manager post-war – his win-loss-draw record from 269 games was 102 wins, 100 losses, 67 draws.Bruce joined Trevor Francis’ Blues as a player from Manchester United in 1996 and made 84 appearances, captaining the side and earning player-of-the-year honours, before taking the Sheffield United player-manager’s job in 1998.He returned to Blues as manager on December 12, 2001, following an extended period of ‘gardening leave’ after leaving Crystal Palace.On Saturday he brings his Sunderland team to St Andrew's, the first time he has been back since his departure to Wigan Athletic.In an exclusive interview, he talks to COLIN TATTUM about his exciting times at the helm and his exit, Carson Yeung and what Blues must do in the future.
STEVE Bruce said he wished that Birmingham would prosper under the new Carson Yeung regime.
But he admitted he didn’t know enough about the Hong Kong tycoon to predict that the good times were about to roll at St Andrew’s.
Bruce met Yeung and had brief talks with him when he bought 29.9 per cent of the club in July 2007.
“We spoke once or twice, I didn’t really have that much to do with him,” he recalled.
“We met at the training ground and let’s just say he was different.
“He was very enthusiastic, he loved his football and he had many dreams for the club which sounded very exciting.
“Unfortunately, back then, it was all about whether he could come up with the rest of the money.
“He’d put his deposit down but couldn’t fulfil the deal and my position had really become untenable.”
