This story is all over the Sundies, including the Hull Mail. It apparently originated at the People however, where Dave Kidd, Fulham fan and producer of ’insider’ stories in the past, is Sports Editor. Here it is in summary: ”Fulham will reportedly offer Steve Bruce a lucrative contract in the summer to take the club back to the Premier League. please log in to view this image According to The People, the Cottagers' billionaire owner Shahid Khan is trying to tempt Bruce away from Hull City with a package worth £15m. It is thought that Khan would offer Bruce a £3m-per-year contract, which would also include a £2m promotion bonus. Khan is said to view the former Wigan Athletic and Sunderland boss as having the right credentials to return the West London club to the top flight.” Strange timing for it to be leaked, even if we're clearly not going to meet Mr Khan's target of the play-offs. Although he hasn't officially started yet (1s March is the alleged date), wonder if Mike Rigg has played a part. If any of it is true, of course.
Wasn't Nial Quinn chairman of Sunderland when Bruce was manager, so I wonder if that is who was championing Bruce at the time Magath had been sacked, hence the rumors then of Bruce getting the post at the very last minute before it was given to Symons. Symons had been put in as manager because he knew the youth team members and that's what the bulk of the squad was. His job, to stabilise the club and bring the kids forward. Think play-offs would have been bit of long shot. If these Bruce rumors are true, it could destabilise the club again, as it is not a very good motivational story for Symons to be hearing while trying to keep us in The Championship, let's hope Khan hasn't screwed it up again like the Rene sacking and bringing in Magath. Dave Kidd hasn't done any favors to a club he is supposed to support. May be they think Bruce has the contacts and the PR clout to bring in better players than Kit.
I would have accepted Steve Bruce 6 months ago, but not now. The Board we need one consistent strategy, with a clear vision and tactical plan to achieve it. Not more revolving doors. Appointing Kit was based on a youth strategy post-Felix, after he’d dumped most of our experience – witness no #FFC spend in January. A change to Steve Bruce would be inconsistent and demotivational (for the team) rubbish. COYW!
I'd be quite happy with Bruce. Kit has done well given the circumstances and it's still a bit early to judge him but Steve would bring his experience which is something we're lacking at almost every level at the moment.
Sarah Brookes, Director of Communications at Fulham Football Club has commented on the rumours surrounding a managerial switch for the recently stabilised Cottagers. "I'm more than happy for you to say that the piece has no substance whatsoever. It isn't the first time that speculation regarding other managers have been made, and no doubt won't be the last but there is no truth to this piece at all." COYW!
The story is running in the sun as well, and they have added that we would be willing to offer a similar sum to Big Sam if Brucie turned us down. I'd not have a problem with this if true, which it probably isn't, as I also like both Bruce and Allerdyce. In fact, given the way he has got West ham playing, Allerdyce would be fantastic. All paper talk, though.
If we were looking for a manager, Bruce has excellent credentials for getting teams promoted out of the Championship, so he'd be a good choice. That said, I'm glad to hear the club nipping this in the bud. Kit deserves his chance to show what he can do, so any talk of a successor is hugely premature.
A change in the summer is required if we want to challenge for promotion in 1-2 years... Kit despite all his effort and willingness can't take us to the next step. The lack of experience from both players and manager is evident on the pitch.
The papers reported when West Ham were playing poorly that Allerdyce was in the top 10 of wages for Managers in Europe, plus he had a very large staff that he takes with him. The negative against Kit, does he have the contacts and clout to get in the quality of players that we need to push on next season. Has he had the contacts when we were in the Premier, as his background has been Youth management.
Isn't the appointment of the director of football, or whatever its called, meant to be the bridge that helps Kit with that side of his management experience? Well done Fulham for nipping it in the bud. The owner has already been quoted as saying he wants a sustainable club and business, employing Bruce or Alladyce would just cause even more upheaval! IMO of course.
Totally premature to be suggesting this. Let's judge the job Kit's done this season in May not February. A play-off position is unlikely, but at this stage that's mainly down to the 1 point Magath got during the first 7 games rather than the 34 Kit's picked up since. There are still things that concern me - I feel that performances have been below par for a while even where we have picked up results. However, there are 51 points left to play for and we could yet have a good final third of the season. COYW
While having a revolving door for managers is generally a bad idea, I think Steve Bruce would take us up to the prem faster than will Kit.
Well, that's this rumour squashed. Steve Bruce has agreed a contrct extension with Hull. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31841502
Kit has been given time and our results at present prove that his system of play is not only lacking results but taking us nearer div 1
Yes but it is not his team. It is Magath to blame, Rene and Jol before him. But all is down to Dempsey and Dembele leaving...
Comes down to MAF cashing in on Dempsey and Dembele, but not re-investing in new players. We were quite luck to survive 2012/13.
I still think the loss of Murphy and Dembele, rather than Dempsey and Dembele, was what really hurt us. Don't forget, at the time Clint left we had good options in his position, not so much with Murphy and Dembele - we never found anyone who was able to replicate what either of them added to the team.
Dempseys and Dembeles (to an extent) come and go. A player with Murphy's quality, intelligence, attitude and leadership is extremely hard to replace, and that's what hurt us most I think.
