Bruce admits Blues relief
30 Apr 2007 - 12:43:42
Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce claimed this year has been his hardest in management after guiding the Blues back to the Premiership at the first time of asking.
Crystal Palace's win over Derby on Sunday sealed their return to the top-flight, but Bruce admitted the season had been a trying one after coming under pressure earlier in the campaign as his side got off to a below-par start.
"It's fantastic to go back up but this has been my hardest and most difficult season in management," he said.
"We've hardly been out of the top six, been top of the table eight times and yet we seem to have been in crisis.
"Being relegated is horrible and you've got to get the faith back of the supporters and the people who employ you.
"For myself, I also had to try and restore a bit of my reputation.
"There have been a load of fans who wanted me through the door and only a few weeks ago the fans were chanting 'you don't know what you're doing'.
"But now they might look at the bigger picture and think 'he hasn't done a bad job again'."
