BRUCE ON BRINK
Hull back in Premier League, but boss and heroes may still leave
STEVE BRUCE wandered alone through the bowels of Wembley and, shirtneck gaping, puffed his cheeks as if ruing a cruel loss.
The weary look betrayed the inner torment of a man who had just taken his team back to the Premier League on a day which should have been reserved for celebration and the promise of tomorrow.
But the only thing guaranteed about Hull’s future right now is that they will start next season in the top flight some £163million richer. Everything else, from the identity of the owner and manager to the contracts of players and size of a disgruntled fanbase, is far from certain.
For this is a club that, without promotion, were sliding towards anonymity, a Football League alsoran fighting more battles off the pitch than on it, from attempting to change their name to a flawed new membership scheme.
But here they are, feeding once more from the cash cow that is Premier League football. Their ascent could well accelerate a takeover from American investors.
If so, however, Bruce fears he will be sacrificed.
‘If there is a takeover then I’ll need to know about it because a takeover usually means a new broom,’ said the 55-year-old, who admitted he would have quit had they lost on Saturday and could still go even if Assem Allam does not sell the club.
‘I don’t know if I am staying. I’ll have a conversation with the owner. I still haven’t 100 per cent decided.
‘I’m weary. It’s been long and difficult for many, many reasons. But I’ll sit down with the powers that be and see where the club wants to go, and see what it wants to do. I’ve got to make sure that we’re equipped, and then we’ll see.’
Even as Hull’s players filed out of Wembley — the majority clutching bottles of lager — they were not particularly drunk on their success. Rather, there was concern for their own future, Bruce and the ambition of the club.
Senior defender Curtis Davies said: ‘The manager is the one who kept the team together and who brought us all in.
‘You need a bit of stability going into the Premier League, with players and the management, so hopefully he stays.’
Such uncertainty extended to out- of- contract midfielder Tom Huddlestone, who was more than a little miffed that other deals have been prioritised ahead of his own.
‘Hopefully when I come back from holiday there will be something on the table,’ he said.
‘It’s been disappointing at times that nothing has been offered, especially when you see some of the other lads signing extensions.’
Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic is another who wants reassurances, while Robert Snodgrass said he would honour his contract at the club ‘until told otherwise’, with Celtic interested in signing the Scotland winger.
Only match-winner Mo Diame seemed in the mood to enjoy the occasion without the need for caution and caveat.
‘This is definitely the best moment of my career. It was the most important goal of my life,’ said the midfielder, who curled home delightfully from 25 yards on 72 minutes.
‘I am proud of what we have done and achieved. It was a tough, long and difficult season. But we have done it and now we must enjoy it.’
Bruce, though, could not even summon a smile when reminded that this was the fourth time he had taken a team into the Premier League. ‘Four promotions, yeah,’ he sighed.
‘I’m going to let other people judge me on that. If I look at it, I would like to think that everywhere I’ve been, when I’ve left, I’ve left them in a better state than when I took over.’
But Bruce deserves credit. He deserves to be in the Premier League. Whether that is with Hull remains to be seen.
HULL CITY (4-4-1-1): Jakupovic 6; Odubajo 7.5, Davies 7, Dawson 6, Robertson 6.5; Elmohamady 6, Livermore 7, Huddlestone 6.5, Snodgrass 6.5 (Clucas 82); Diame 9 (Maguire 89); Hernandez 6.5 (Meyler 85). Subs not used: Bruce, Maloney, Akpom, Kuciak. Booked: Dawson. Scorer: Diame 72.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-4-2): Westwood 8; Hunt 6.5, Loovens 6.5, Lees 6, Pudil 6 (Lucas Joao 87); Wallace 5.5 (Helan 63, 6), Hutchinson 7 (Nuhiu 76), Lee 6.5, Bannan 6; Forestieri 6.5, Hooper 5.5. Subs not used: Marco Matias, Sasso, Wildsmith, Lopez.
Man of the match: Mo Diame. Referee: Bobby Madley 7.