Ex-Newcastle United manager eyes shock return to rescue former club following 18-month exile
Steve Bruce has been out of work since being sacked by West Bromwich Albion in October 2022
Steve Bruce has emerged as a shock front-runner to take charge of former club Birmingham City.
The Blues are in dire straits after being relegated to League One following a roller-coaster campaign. Replacing John Eustace with Wayne Rooney in October backfired, with Birmingham sliding from sixth to the bottom three.
Tony Mowbray had taken the reins for a brief spell before a health problem forced the club’s US owners to appoint their fourth manager - Gary Rowett - in a desperate attempt to survive. He had previously enjoyed a solid spell at St Andrew’s but failed to beat the drop despite winning against Norwich City on the final day.
The managerial situation remains in limbo until a long-term decision is made on Mowbray’s future. Should he leave, Football Insider claim ex-Newcastle United manager Bruce would be in the frame to take charge.
The 63-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by West Bromwich Albion in October 2022. That came a year after his Toon dismissal following the Saudi-backed takeover.
Bruce - who enjoyed six years at Birmingham in the noughties - has opened up about wanting another crack at management. He said earlier this year: “This is the longest I've been out of the game. I was unbroken for something like 46 years, and unfortunately, I've had a year out now.
“I've been busy building a house over the last couple of years, so I've got myself involved with that. But, look, it's time that I go back to work again. I'm itching to go back in, not necessarily as a manager.
“I wouldn't mind helping a young manager (and) helping a club in any way. I'd like to think that, after 46 years, if someone asked me a question about football, I'd be able to answer it.”