Bruce still 'bitter and twisted'

23 October 2009 09:42
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Steve Bruce admits his acrimonious exit from Birmingham City two years ago still weighs heavy on his mind. [LNB] The experienced coach enjoyed six productive years in the St Andrews dugout before breaking ties with the Blues in November 2007.[LNB]His relationship with the Birmingham board had become untenable by then, with a promised new contract failing to materialise as the club became embroiled in a distracting takeover saga.[LNB]Bruce opted to take on a new challenge at Wigan, and has since moved on to Sunderland, but he will forever be troubled by the events which accompanied his departure from the Midlands.[LNB]"After so long, eight years, I felt very let down, and still do, and always will," Bruce said in the Daily Mirror as he prepares to head back St Andrews on Saturday with his latest employers.[LNB]"Then there was David Sullivan saying getting rid of me for £3m was the 'best piece of business the club had ever done' - thanks a lot![LNB]"Washing the dirty linen in public like that shouldn't have happened, I deserved better than that.[LNB]"I had every right to be all bitter and twisted."[LNB]VulnerableBirmingham have recently been bought out by Far East businessman Carson Yeung, but it was his efforts to take charge of the club in 2007 which led to Bruce's demise.[LNB]The Black Cats boss admits as much and accepts that he should have walked away from the Blues before the turmoil was allowed to set it.[LNB]"Dead man walking, that was me," he said.[LNB]"There were broken promises and for everyone it was very, very difficult to actually concentrate on what mattered: the football.[LNB]"There was takeover talk all the time and whether or not Carson Yeung could come up with the money.[LNB]"I was vulnerable and everything filtered through to the players."[LNB]Bruce added: "In hindsight, maybe I should have gone after relegation 2005 but I didn't want to leave the club in the Championship, so I stuck it out and we got promotion."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports