Bruce Sacked at last (now official)

[Damo70]

If there's the smallest chance of a takeover then it'd be wise to keep Bruce.  Any new owner will have their own ideas, a preferred manager being one.  It'd be bonkers to bring in a new face, only for it to not fit in a months time.

I totally agree. I am pretty sure that MON would not have been appointed without Randy Lerners agreement given that we were in the process of being taken over by Lerner.

[Des Little]

Bruce is playing hardball to make Tony pay him off - he won’t walk, but seeing as his mate Round has gone it’s only a matter of time. The fact that he’s still in Portugal when the players return for pre season tells you all you need to know.

It’s a fucking madhouse.

[paul_e]

If there's the smallest chance of a takeover then it'd be wise to keep Bruce.  Any new owner will have their own ideas, a preferred manager being one.  It'd be bonkers to bring in a new face, only for it to not fit in a months time.

yeah let's stick with him because it's worked out fine over the last two seasons
let's have more of that

If we had 2-3 months before the start of the season I'd probably side with Dante in this but my concern is that if we stick with him we'll be into August with no takeover and no choice but to try to carry on with Bruce into the new season but with him not having had much scope to sign people he could be tempted to do a MON and walk away to protect his reputation from the shitstorm that he's played a big part in creating.

For that reason, even though it might look like we're completely falling apart, I wouldn't be too upset if he threw out the toys tomorrow after his meeting with he ho.

[Clampy]

If any new owners come in, then they may well want their own guy and that's fair enough. As it stands at the moment though, I'm glad there is a manager there who the vast majority of the players seem to enjoy working under. It's the only stable part of the club at the moment.

[VinnieChase84]

Got a feeling he may walk today

[paul_e]

If any new owners come in, then they may well want their own guy and that's fair enough. As it stands at the moment though, I'm glad there is a manager there who the vast majority of the players seem to enjoy working under. It's the only stable part of the club at the moment.

The problem there, removing all opinions on the job he's done here, he does have a record of walking away if he thinks his image will be damaged.

Sheffield United - walked away because of broadroom turmoil and lack of funds.
Huddersfield - Sacked.
Wigan (first time) - failed in the playoffs and walked away because he had his head turned.
Palace - well documented that he walked away after a few months because he got offered more money.
Blues - Walked away in large part because of the uncertainty over a take over.
Wigan (2nd time) - walked away because his head was turned.
Sunderland - Sacked.
Hull City - Walked away because he wasn't getting money for transfers.

Just looking through that list is he really someone who's going to stick around to provide stability if he isn't getting everything his own way?  This is why I'm nervous of us holding off until August before making a decision because if he decides to take the choice out of our hands it could leave us in a much more difficult position, just lik when MON did the dirty on us.

[Clampy]

If he walks, then he walks. We can't afford to sack the bloke anyway and we'd have to pay compensation for a new manager and bring in new backroom staff. It's  best all round for now if he stays. Like Chris said the other day, we're just going round in circles talking about the same thing really.

[paul_e]

My point is that I disagree with the whole 'only stable part of the club' bit. If he's waiting to be pushed for the pay out, like Lambert was, then I'd rather we know now and get rid before we lose the entire pre-season. Last year a shitty August cost us promotion, with a weaker side and huge uncertainty around the club another shitty start could be much more damaging.

[Clampy]

We'll have to agree to diaagree.

[BoVillan esq]

Got a feeling he may walk today

It has to be imminent, at the moment he's balancing the possibility of hanging in there and get a pay of or keeping his reputation intact, jumping ship, from a club that could possibly go into meltdown any second, firstly he should go, he's basically failed and in part responsible for the present dilemma, secondly Xia needs to get his finger out and look at the offers in front of him, realise we could be mangerless, staring disaster in face, get the club sold, we are a matter of days away from the season start, we need to at least look like we are serious, otherwise this will all play out on the field of play. 

[Chris Smith]

I just cannot see how we are in any position, as things stand, to contemplate sacking and compensating a manager followed by recruiting and appointing another. Anyone decent will not want his reputation tarnished by joining a basket case so will seek reassurances about the future that we are currently unable to provide.

[Risso]

Best all round that he walks.  We save his wages and get somebody cheaper in.  Can't see the point of continuing to throw £3m a year at Bruce.

[AsTallAsLions]

I just cannot see how we are in any position, as things stand, to contemplate sacking and compensating a manager followed by recruiting and appointing another. Anyone decent will not want his reputation tarnished by joining a basket case so will seek reassurances about the future that we are currently unable to provide.

We can't afford to even contemplate sacking him, no.

Doesn't stop him walking, taking his backroom staff with him, going to the MLA to claim compensation from the club, and generally leaving us with a massive shitstorm when we can't afford a new manager et al.

[mr underhill]

the only way that could play out is if he believes he has a case for constructive dismissal surely? If he walks of his own volition then he walks, compo doesn't come into it

[Clark W Griswold]

On the one hand he knows that this is the biggest club he's managed (and possibly will ever manage) and from that point of view he will most likely want to have another go. He did get damn close last season. The other clubs he's managed with the exception of Sunderland and Sheffield United have been a bit of a non entity.
On the other hand, after the criticism he received last season from sections of the fans (at times justified), and with the possibility of having to offload with nothing to spend, he may think that it's mission impossible and that he won't enjoy the challenge. I think he'll wait to see if a pay off is a possibility first though.