Birmingham City and Wrexham name-checked as Blackpool boss gives 'difficult' verdict

Newly appointed Blackpool boss Steve Bruce admits it's going to be 'difficult challenge' for his new side as they look to compete with Birmingham City and other teams in the division.

The 63-year-old is back in the dugout after spending nearly two years away. He has been appointed as the new head coach of Blackpool and has signed a two-year deal. 

Bruce inherits a side that is winless in their opening four League One matches with defeats to newly promoted Crawley Town and Stockport County. They picked up two points against Cambridge United and Wycombe Wanderers when Richard Keogh took charge, which has put them in good stead for their game against Exeter City in over a week's time. 

The former Man United defender as been there and done it, he's been in management for the last 26 years and has assessed the biggest challenges in front of him. He has name-checked Birmingham, along with Stockport County and Wrexham, addressing the financial resources they have. 

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “It’s going to be very, very difficult this year with some big teams with some big budgets in the division - especially the likes of Birmingham, that’s the first one.

“Stockport and Wrexham are on a bit of a high, and then you’ve got the other established clubs there as well, so it’s going to be a difficult challenge - but it’s a challenge I would like to take.’

Asked what his remit is at Bloomfield Road, Bruce responded: “Well, he (Simon Sadler) wants to get back into the Championship, and rightly so.

‘They’ve obviously had a taste of it the past few years and unfortunately missed out last year. I think they finished eighth. So the project is quite simple  - can we take them into the playoffs?”

Bruce was manager of Birmingham City from December 2001 to November 2007, the longest time he has spent at any given club. He won promotion twice with them in 2002 and in 2007, and for the last 17 years has floated between the Premier League and the Championship.

His return to St Andrew's is pencilled in for Sunday, December 29 when Blackpool travel to face Birmingham City at St Andrew's. The reverse fixture takes place on Saturday, April 12, 2025.