Steve Bruce releases statement as ex-NUFC boss seals 'shock' return to football with West Brom
After losing his job at Newcastle last October, Steve Bruce declared "this will probably be me done as a manager."
A few months later, he is back in management, with West Brom announcing just moments ago that he has signed an 18-month deals with the Baggies.
Not only will trusted assistants Stephen Clemence and Steve Agnew join him at The Hawthorns, his son Alex has also joined his backroom team.
Here's what he's had to say since landing the job, followed by the reaction of Baggies CEO Ron Gourlay; who has praised Bruce's 'tactical nous'...
Steve Bruce on landing the West Brom job:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to manage a club that has such great history and tradition. It is a club I obviously know well from my time in the Midlands, and I am already relishing the challenge of taking it forward.
“I did not envisage I would return to management this quickly, but once I got the phone call from Ron, I knew I could not resist the challenge of getting this club back to where they want to be.
“I am coming in with one aim and that is to get Albion to the Premier League.”
Ron Gourlay on Bruce's appointment:
“Steve is a highly-respected and experienced manager who has an impressive record of earning promotion to the Premier League.
“His excellent man-management skills, tactical nous, and ability to hit the ground running were among the many reasons we decided he was the man to take us forward.
“Promotion remains our objective for this season, and we are confident that with Steve leading the club we have given ourselves every chance of achieving that goal.”
Some are calling it a 'shock', feeling his time was up after his time on Tyneside, but it hasn't take him long to U-turn on that stance!
