WHEELS OF Brucie’s back on track after a summer cycling revelation
PAUL HETHERINGTON back because all the infrastructure is here. The new owner, Tony Xia, will demand it and there are good people like Steve Round, the technical director, and Keith Wyness, the CEO.
“But if you ever want reminding, we had 42,500 against Burton Albion on Boxing Day and nearly 40,000 against Leeds.
“So Spurs versus Villa should be a top-end Premier League clash – but we are not there and, to be honest, there’s a bit of work to be done.
“But that’s why I have got the chance. And I’ve managed to get out of the Championship the last four times I’ve been in it.
“It’s the biggest challenge of my career but I’ve waited 20 years for something like this – I just hope I don’t f**k it up!”
Bruce gave up a Premier League job at Hull and revealed for the first time the background behind that decision.
The Villa boss, now three months into his new job, said: “When I met the old man – Assem Allam – at Hull, he told me I could run it.
“I had a tough time at Sunderland and got the sack but in the end the four years at Hull after that were tremendous.
“We had two promotions, a cup final, were at Wembley three times and played in Europe.
“I got on spectacularly well with Ehab’s father at Hull but unfortunately he is sick and I wish him a speedy recovery. “His son took over and he wanted to run the show. “All we did was argue and once there is instability at the top, it filters down. “In the end, it was right to leave but I’d just won promotion to the Premier League, so I didn’t want to go – it was really hard to walk away. “But we were spending all our energy fighting each other, which wasn’t helpful for anybody.” The immediate challenge for Bruce is today’s match at White Hart Lane – and the Geordie does not pull any punches when admitting how difficult a task this will be for his new side. He said: “This is the best Tottenham team I’ve seen – they were often a bit fragile, but not now. “What an impact Mauricio Pochettino has had. “They were so good against Chelsea the other night, I almost didn’t want to watch! I didn’t think I’d sleep for a few nights. “But we can’t think like that. “We’ll go there, give it a go and enjoy ourselves. “We’ll have a crack and see if we can have a cup run.” It is a big-time fixture – but Bruce reckons he’s back at that level just through being in charge at Villa. of the sternest tests in the last 64 as they prepare to travel to north London to face a Spurs side on a high thanks to their 2-0 win over Chelsea last Wednesday. Bruce guided Hull to the 2014 Final – which they lost 3-2 to Arsenal – while Villa were runners-up the following year. He said: “We couldn’t have asked for anything more difficult but we have to hope we can play to our best and catch Spurs on an off day. “I was fortunate to win the FA Cup as a player and fortunate to get to a final with Hull a few years ago. It’s one of the great sporting events of our country. “To be involved in it is a fantastic feeling. From the build-up to the game itself, it’s a fantastic occasion.” PAUL HETHERINGTON