Source: PA
Bruce hits out at Houllier
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has launched a broadside at Aston Villa counterpart Gerard Houllier after losing star striker Darren Bent to the Frenchman.
A war of words has broken out between the two clubs since the 26-year-old England international completed a £24million move to Villa Park on Tuesday barely two days after Bent submitted a transfer request.
Bruce was devastated to have lost the man who was spearheading the Black Cats' push for Europe this season after plundering 25 goals in his first campaign on Wearside, and furious about the way the deal was done.
He said: "I would have liked even a phone call from Mr Houllier, for whom I did have the utmost respect for what he's done.
"I would have thought that, out of respect, maybe he would have picked up the telephone to say, 'We are interested in buying your striker'.
"That at least would have given me an opportunity to try to do something about it."
