'Let's see if the phone rings' - Ireland job interests Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce thinks the Ireland job would 'suit him', as he ponders a return to football.
The former Sunderland and West Brom boss has consistently featured amongst the fancied candidates since Stephen Kenny's reign ended earlier this month.
And Bruce admits he'd be interested in taking on the Boys in Green job.
"I'm led to believe I'm there or thereabouts in the betting for the Ireland job," Bruce told Ladbrokes Fazone. "It's a job that would interest me, that's for sure.
"You know, as I've said, I've had a bit of time out and I'm itching to get back into the game, and something like that would suit me. Let's see if the phone rings... it's one of those; are they going to make an approach? At this moment in time, I really don't know. But I've seen the betting sites and read the rumours, like everybody else. At the moment I can't really comment on it because there's been no connection.
"I know a couple of the lads in that team well - most recently, of course, I've worked with Dara [O'Shea] and [Jayson] Molumby. Dara, in particular, is probably having a difficult time at the moment with Burnley, but what a compliment it was for him to have been signed by Vincent Kompany.
"Dara had great leadership skills and he plays with a wonderful attitude. He never knows when he's beaten, he's a fierce competitor... as tough as they come, in fact."
Bruce has been out of the game since leaving the Baggies in October 2022 and the former Man Utd skipper says he's more than ready to find a new position.
"It's time to go to back to work," he says. "This is the longest I've been out of the game. I was unbroken for something like 46 years, and unfortunately, I've had a year out, now. I've been busy building a house over the last couple of years, so I've got myself involved with that. But, look, it's time that I go back to work again. I'm itching to go back in, not necessarily as a manager. I wouldn't mind helping a young manager, helping a club in any way; I'd like to think that after 46 years, if someone asked me a question about football, I'd be able to answer it.
"I'd like to get back involved in some capacity. If it's management, great. If it's not, that's also fine. Maybe consultancy... something along those lines. That sporting director role rings a nice bell for me; I think that would be a nice gig.
"I've had a break from it, but I've missed it. Especially those Saturday afternoons. These days, Saturday afternoon is a difficult place for me. I've forced myself to have this break, because I've never had one before, so we'll see what happens now."
