Source: Team_Talk
Bruce warning over player power
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has hit out at the increased player power in football following the Wayne Rooney contract saga this week.[LNB] Rooney had stated his desire to leave Manchester United before performing a dramatic U-turn on Friday and signing a new five-year contract with the club.[LNB]The deal makes him the highest-paid player in United's history on around £150,000 per week, and Bruce admits the finance present in football combined with players' sense of self-worth is "a cocktail for disaster".[LNB]"The hardest part of managing in the Premier League is dealing with egos," he said.[LNB]"It's the man-management, the advice and looking after players. The one thing you don't want is your football club ending up on the front pages repeatedly.[LNB]"The difference between my time playing and now is the player power that's come since the Bosman ruling. You are dealing with young footballers who have become millionaires at a very young age and it can be difficult to handle. When even a club of Manchester United's stature are struggling with it, it shows how difficult it is.[LNB]"All you can do is try and gain their respect. Sometimes that's difficult. The vast majority of players are of a similar ilk and background, and I don't mean that disrespectfully.[LNB]"Then you add to that the power that money gives. It's a cocktail for disaster. You just have to hope the player gets good advice."
