Source: PA
Bruce calls for winter break
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has backed Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's call for a winter break which could help to revitalise the FA Cup.
Bruce made no secret of his dismay at a fixture schedule which saw his team play five games in the space of a fortnight around the turn of the year, and has joined his former manager in backing the kind of lay-off introduced in many European countries.
Ferguson has suggested adopting something similar to the German model, in which teams are given a break in January and then resume with their domestic cup competition.
"We have to try to arrest something," Bruce told the club's official website. "I have had the privilege of going all the way in the FA Cup, and getting to the latter stages is a fantastic thing for any club.
"My thoughts on it are that the competition needs a radical revamp. For example, the third round is usually the first Saturday after New Year when everyone is spent up from Christmas, and it becomes a problem for people after they have shelled out the money for their season tickets.
"Maybe we could try to restructure things. I've seen Sir Alex's quotes on a mid-season break - if we're going to be successful as a nation, that has to come into play."
