Steve Bruce's West Brom regret and 'patience' plea for new owners

Bruce, 64 and now in charge of League One Blackpool, guided the Seasiders to a 2-1 pre-season friendly victory against Mason's Baggies on Saturday.

It was the first time he has faced Albion since he was dismissed in October 2022, just eight months after taking over from Valerien Ismael. At the point of his exit Albion had slipped to 22nd in the Championship - third-bottom - in a very poor start to the league campaign.

Bruce, the former Blues, Villa and Newcastle boss among several others, admitted his time at Albion 'did not go as well as expected' but suggested he desired more time to turn things around in the Black Country.

"Look, it didn't go as well as I'd expected at Albion," Bruce told the Express & Star.

"In my opinion I didn't get enough time - but that's another argument.

"There are still people around the club who are good people, and the club is a fabulous, fabulous club.

"I wish the new manager the best of luck with it and we'll see what they can do."

Bruce was dismissed 13 league games into the 2022/23 campaign with Albion at their lowest position in more than two decades. Having seen out the final few months of the previous campaign, the Baggies slipped to a finish of 10th.

That summer the manager recruited notable free transfers including Jed Wallace, John Swift and Okay Yokuslu. Bruce had overseen just one league win in 13 upon his dismissal - though there were eight draws. Albion's four defeats were all by the odd goals, including 3-2 home reverses to Blues and Swansea.

At the time Albion were still under the tumultuous ownership of Guochuan Lai and heading towards a financial oblivion, at the same time the league table had the Baggies much nearer to League One than a top-flight push.

"It was difficult. A difficult time for the club," added Bruce. "But you are judged on results.

"At the end of the day ... with expected goals (xG) I think we were first, we were first for stats, but unfortunately we drew eight games out of 13. As I said I thought it was a bit harsh to pull the plug so quickly. But I'm going to say that, aren't I?"

Bruce's replacement Carlos Corberan oversaw a defeat in his first match in charge and Albion slipped to bottom of the Championship. The Spaniard turned it around and pushed Albion towards a top-six finish, but fell just short.

Bruce, who also referenced Tony Mowbray's three-month stint in the second half of last season, added: "I keep an eye out, there are some very good people and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"But I didn't get enough time and I think Tony Mowbray would probably feel the same! I know the boy Corberan left, and this, that and the other.

"I hope there's a bit of patience in the club and they give Ryan the resources to make it what it wants to be.

"Good luck to him, I wish him well. He's got a wonderful start and a wonderful chance at a very, very good club and I wish him well and I hope it works for him."

Bruce has been at Blackpool since last September and guided Pools to ninth in the third tier last term. He is approaching 1,100 games in management