Source: SKY_Sports
Bruce reveals Wearside pride
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce does not believe his Newcastle allegiances will count against him at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] Bruce was confirmed as the new boss of the Black Cats on Wednesday after parting company with Wigan earlier in the day.[LNB]Northumberland-born Bruce is a self-confessed supporter of Sunderland's bitter local rivals Newcastle and has been linked with a move to St James' Park in the past.[LNB]But the former Manchester United defender, who has signed a three-year deal on Wearside, is confident he already has the backing of the majority of fans.[LNB]ProudSpeaking at his first press conference as Sunderland boss, shown live on Sky Sports News, he said: "I think they like one of their own from the North East.[LNB]"It's results on the pitch that matter. I hope I can win over the few doubters I have. The vast majority of what I've seen is positive.[LNB]"I'm proud to sit here and be Sunderland manager," he added. "Unless you're born up here, you don't really realise what it means.[LNB]"It's a working class area. It was born in me and bred in me that I only got there with hard work. I wasn't blessed with any huge ability.[LNB]"I got there with a bit of hard graft and a bit of determination and I want my team to mirror that.[LNB]"I'm going to give everyone a chance. I've got the chance to work with the players for a good few weeks before the transfer deadline.[LNB]"Whatever happened in the past, I'm not really interested in. To start with I want to give every single one of them a chance. We have some good players here and I want to have a good look."[LNB]SteelChairman Niall Quinn expects Bruce to add some backbone to a team which only secured their Premier League status on the final day of the season.[LNB]"There are times - and the players would admit this - when we've been brittle," he said. "We've made some giant strides and some backwards steps.[LNB]"I believe the thing that's been missing is steel.[LNB]"[Bruce] will forgive a player working hard if their passing goes astray, but what he won't forgive is not working.[LNB]"He was top of the list, we had some very good candidates, but I think Steve is the perfect fit."[LNB]
