Bruce out to make Owls top flight
STEVE BRUCE is vowing to show Aston Villa they were wrong to sack him – by claiming a record-busting fifth promotion to the Premier League.
Bruce is still hurting from getting the bullet at Villa in October, just five months after guiding them to the Championship play-off final which they lost to Fulham.
But taking new club Sheffield Wednesday back to the top flight after a 19-year absence will heal the wounds for the former Manchester United skipper.
Bruce, 58, officially begins work as successor to the axed Jos Luhukay at the Owls on February 1 after recovering from knee surgery. And he cannot wait to set about the task of adding to the record he shares with Cardiff’s Neil Warnock as a four-time promotion winner from the Championship.
Bruce (right) has achieved that twice each with Birmingham and Hull and his No.2 Steve Agnew said: “Nothing would give Steve greater pleasure than to get to the Premier League with Wednesday.
“That’s what he is striving to do now – and I can tell you he’s really got the bit between his teeth after what happened at Villa. We were 90 minutes off being in the Premier League but it didn’t work out. Even so, we were still a little bit surprised when we did leave Villa.
“After that, Steve always kept saying to me the next job has to be the right club.
“He’s been appointed here and he is absolutely delighted because he feels this is a club that matches his ambition. Wednesday are a club with a rich history and tradition, a terrific stadium and unbelievable support. There are so many attractive things about them. “It may be February 1 when he starts but Steve is hard-working and he’ll be on the phone in daily contact. “I’ve no doubt he’ll be closer than people think and, when he does come in and with all the conversations that we will have had, I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running.”
Agnew and Bruce’s long-time first-team coach Stephen Clemence are taking temporary charge of the Wednesday team, starting with today’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to League One Luton.
Agnew added: “Luton are a very good team.
“They have had a promotion and now they are very close to the top of League One, so they are not to be underestimated.”