Steve’s “disappointment” at TV pundits

Steve Bruce has spoken of his disappointment at criticism over his ‘delayed’ arrival as new manager at Hillsborough.

Bruce will take charge of Wednesday for the first time at Ipswich on Saturday, following his appointment earlier this month when it was also announced that he would not become the new boss until February 1 for personal reasons.

Ahead of the FA Cup tie at Chelsea on Sunday, BBC Match of the Day pundits Danny Murphy and Ruud Gullit were both critical of the situation, even though the club is happy with the arrangement, Gullit questioning whether Bruce would have reacted in the same way if Manchester United had offered him their manager’s job.

Responding to the comments by Murphy and Gullit, Bruce told Telegraph Sport: “I have had two operations and I’ve been recovering in Barbados. I did not hide anything from Sheffield Wednesday and they were perfectly happy with the plan. It was done with their full support.

“I wouldn’t have taken the job if they were not aware of the situation and what I needed to have done. I was completely open and honest with them when we talked about me taking the job. It is extremely disappointing that people have tried to make something negative out of it.

“People also have to realise that I had an extremely tough year in 2018, losing both my parents and I’d promised those close to me that I’d take a break. It took a lot out of me emotionally, it really did, and this is something I needed to do.”

Murphy said on Sunday: “If he starts poorly, you think Sheffield Wednesday fans aren’t going to bring this up? You’re sunning yourself watching the cricket, for whatever reason.

“It’s not something any manager I’ve ever played under would have done.”

However, Murphy has since admitted that he spoke without full knowledge of the situation, saying: “Where I’ll hold my hands up is I gave the answer without all of the information, which is my fault.”

He added: “We all say things that we look back on and think we probably shouldn’t have said.”

Bruce says he is “fit and raring to go” for the trip to Portman Road on Saturday when he will link up with trusted assistants Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence who, along with Lee Bullen, have been in charge at S6 since the turn of the year.

 

 

 

 

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