Ex-West Brom boss Steve Bruce linked with shock move to League Two club

Former West Brom boss Steve Bruce has emerged as a shock contender for the vacant Gillingham job.

The 62-year-old endured a difficult eight months at The Hawthorns, as the club slipped out of the play-offs and were then languishing in the Championship relegation zone having won just eight of his 32 games in charge.

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He was sacked in October 2022 with Albion in their lowest league position for two decades - and has been out of work ever since.

Now he has emerged as the shock leading candidate for the vacant Gillingham job - after the League Two club dismissed Neil Harris.

He is currently favourites with the bookmakers to land the role, ahead of ex-Wigan boss Leam Richardson and former MK Dons and Oxford United chief Karl Robinson.

A return would come 44 years after the ex-Albion manager began his playing career at The Gills, where he made 237 appearances during a five year spell.

The reports come just weeks after Bruce was linked with taking over the Republic of Ireland national team, whose boss Stephen Kenny is under pressure following a difficult Euros qualifying campaign.

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