Bruce will box clever for Robbie
ALEX BRUCE has left his ringside seat to step through the ropes and on to the canvas to take up the manager’s job at Robbie Savage’s Macclesfield Town.
Together with owner Rob Smethurst, former Wales star Savage has breathed new life into the phoenix club with successive promotions from football’s ninth tier to the seventh.
Despite the success, the managerial casualties have been racking up with 39-year-old Bruce being Macc’s fifth incumbent.
Mark Duffy, who as a player helped the club to the two promotions, was dismissed as boss after just five months and with his side in seventh spot in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
But Bruce, son of much travelled manager Steve, is not worried about having to match the lofty ambitions of Smethurst and Savage.
Bruce said: “Who isn’t trigger-happy when it comes to managers? Tell me nowadays, who isn’t?
“I know what Robbie wants. I am grateful to him and Rob Smethurst for giving me the opportunity.
“I can’t be worrying about whether they are going to be trigger-happy or not.
“I’ve got to concentrate on myself and get the players together and make it enjoyable for them and go on a decent run.
“I have had a ringside seat to see what management is all about.
“You live and die by results but I intend to hit the ground running.”
Bruce was a coach alongside his dad at West Brom and added: “This gives me the opportunity to be my own man.
“I learned a lot at West Brom although there were some difficult situations.
“I know the current manager Carlos Corberan has had similar things to deal with and he’s slowly getting there.
“It was something that needed time like any job. I enjoyed it and learned a lot.”