Exclusive: Former Manchester United Stalwart Steve Bruce Backed for Managerial Return

New Barrow AFC boss Stephen Clemence has backed friend and mentor Steve Bruce for a return to football management.

Bruce’s Potential Return to Football

Don’t be surprised to see Bruce, 63, who took charge of more than 1,000 games at 11 clubs, running the rule over Clemence’s Cumbrian squad at their Mancunian training base in the coming months.

But this isn’t the start of Bruce’s re-entry into the game 21 months after his ignominious exit at West Bromwich Albion.

“For me, Steve has still got it,” said Clemence, son of Liverpool, Spurs and England goalkeeping great, Ray Clemence.

Image Credits: Football365

Bruce’s Impact on Clemence’s Career

Certainly, Clemence knows the former Manchester United star as well as most.

He played under Bruce at Birmingham City and was given his first role in coaching at Sunderland.

The duo’s working relationship continued at Hull City, Aston Villa-where he helped nurture the talent of Jack Grealish-Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle and eventually West Brom.

Even when handed his first solo appointment at Gillingham last season, the link was still there as Bruce began his playing career at Priestfield in 1979.

“In the last couple of years I decided I wanted to have a go myself,” added
Clemence.

“But I felt I owed it to Steve to stay with him because he was so good to me at the end of my playing career when he took me on as a coach straight away.

“When our time came to an end at West Brom I told Steve I was going to have a go myself.”

“That was in the October and the rest of that season I went to watch a lot of League One and Two football.”

“I thought that is where I would get an opportunity. I am not stupid and didn’t think it would be in the Championship or Premier League.”

“So, I went to make sure I got a good knowledge of the level. It felt like football back when I played, everyone was up at each other.”

“They might get kicked but wouldn’t roll about. They’d get up, go again and try to kick the other player back.”

“I loved the whole feel round the lower league grounds, loved there was no VAR. There were lots of things I liked about it.”

“I knew the question would come that you haven’t worked with these players at this level. But I know how to work with people.”

“Yes, I have worked with some top players. But there have been players in those squads that have only been okay, and you have got to try to improve them.”

“I saw it at Gillingham and now Barrow that I have got to bring the best out of the people I am working with.”

Young Coaches in Demand

“Unfortunately, a lot of clubs want younger coaches and managers, but Steve has still got a hell of a lot to offer,” said Clemence, appointed on a two-year contract soon after Wild’s exit.

“If you look at Newcastle [United], I think he did a good job. Things change around new owners and there is a lot of pressure on that job, but I thought he handled it really well. The players were still with him,” we told SportsBoom.com.

“Anybody that did take him on would be very lucky to have him.” 

Clemence’s Appointment at Barrow AFC

Clemence junior is successor to Pete Wild who took the Holker Street outfit to the brink of a first ever Football League play-off appearance last season.

A seven-game winless run during April that yielded only two points saw Barrow miss out.

Despite the disappointment Wild’s departure in late May still came as a surprise.

Bruce’s Continued Support

“Steve has told me he will come. I know he will definitely pop down to the training ground because it is only down the road from him.”

“And I will definitely invite him to come to games at home and I am sure he will take me up on that.”