Source: Daily_Mail
Collins tells Bruce: You sold the North East's best player but I'm not bitter
Danny Collins says winning North East football's top prize does not prove Steve Bruce was wrong to sell him to Stoke City.[LNB]Reason to celebrate: Sunderland's Danny Collins, now at Stoke, was the North East player of the year [LNB]The Wales international was named the North East Football Writers' Player of the Year earlier this week, just three months after he was surprisingly sold to Tony Pulis by Bruce.[LNB]The 29-year-old admits he was initially surprised and hurt by Bruce's decision to move him on in August, after five years on Wearside, but says he is not bitter.[LNB]Collins, who is also Sunderland fans' current player of the season, said: 'I have nothing to prove to Steve Bruce. I know what I can do and I am sure the fans at Sunderland were pretty pleased with how I did.[LNB]'Steve Bruce's opinion of me is entirely up to him but I have no grudges against him and I wish the club only the best.[LNB]'Picking up the player of the season award for Sunderland was an honour in itself, so to cap it off with this award was pretty special.[LNB]'It is certainly something I am proud of and will look back on proudly in a few years. I had five good years at Sunderland, especially the last three seasons. [LNB]'We won the Championship under Roy Keane and then had two pretty solid seasons back in the Premier League.[LNB]'I met some good people there and really enjoyed my time at Sunderland.'[LNB]Collins hopes to attend the awards ceremony in Durham on Sunday, November 29.Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson will be presented with the young player prize and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation will also collect a special award.[LNB] NORTHERN EXPOSURE: When the top five players in the North East all leave that's a sure sign this region has become a footballing deadzoneCalm down, calm down! Raging Roy's temper tantrums stop Keane taking part in Ipswich training-ground matchesBruce fines Sunderland star Kenwyne for 'silly' sending off against West HamSUNDERLAND FC
