Steve Bruce has been hired manager of West Brom on an 18-month contract, three and a half months after leaving Newcastle and indicating that he would not return to the club. With West Brom seventh in the Championship, Bruce replaces Valérien Ismael, who was fired on Wednesday. The 61-year-old has earned promotion to the Premier League four times, twice with Birmingham and once with Hull, and is looking to do it again.
West Brom have only won one of their last eight games, and Bruce’s first game will be against one of his previous clubs, Sheffield United, on Wednesday. Andy Carroll, with whom Bruce previously worked at Newcastle, is among the team.Gourlay, appointed on Wednesday, said: “Steve is a highly-respected and experienced manager who has an impressive record of earning promotion to the Premier League. His excellent man-management skills, tactical nous and ability to hit the ground running were among the many reasons we decided he was the man to take us forward.
“Promotion remains our objective for this season, and we are confident that with Steve leading the club we have given ourselves every chance of achieving that goal.”
