Mum would have loved this, says Bruce

Aston VillA’s surge to the brink of a Premier league return has been built on the strength provided by steve Bruce. But this week the manager gave a glimpse of the raw grief he has suffered after losing both his parents in a matter of weeks. ‘in the industry we’re in there is so much negativity and so-called bad people around everywhere,’ Bruce (right) began. ‘so when something happens like what’s happened to me, with how cruel it is, then the number of messages of support and cards i’ve had has been quite remarkable. My mum always enjoyed Wembley, so she would have been getting her outfit.’ the rawness of Bruce’s feelings burst out and the tears fell. His mother sheenagh died this month and his father Joe died in February. But amid the personal ordeal Bruce has maintained a remarkable level of professional focus. When he took charge in october 2016, Villa had not won away in the league for 432 days, were two points above the Championship drop zone and had a disjointed squad struggling with the effects of relegation. Bruce was able to commit high wages on players such as John terry and Robert snodgrass and his formula has largely worked. Villa face Fulham with a starting line-up stocked with experience and at only 22 Jack Grealish is set to be possibly the most influential member of the team. ‘there’s a maturity to him now,’ said Bruce. ‘i’ve said, “Well, David Beckham used to do 12k in games, you get nowhere near it”. All of a sudden, “i bet you a fiver i can get there on saturday” and he’s away, tackling people.’ Bruce has banished thoughts of failure but knows it would mean another season of balancing the books and his team looking totally different by August. But on the flipside, taking Villa back up would be a significant achievement in a rich career for the 57-year-old. ‘i’ve worked all my life to have an opportunity at a big club and i’ve not been disappointed with it,’ he said. ‘Whether it would be the best achievement, how do you judge it? Maybe the most satisfying, with what has happened in my personal life, of course. But certainly i’ve enjoyed the challenge. it is a fantastic club.’