Kilmarnock defender Alex Bruce has opened up on the advice he gave his dad Steve before he took the Newcastle job.
The Killie defender has featured 11 times in Premiership action this term. Meanwhile, his dad has guided the Toon to 14th in the Premier League.
Bruce was an EPL regular. (CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images)
Now the Kilmarnock veteran has opened up on his dad’s initial Newcastle rejection, saying he’d have shown his fury via a shovel had he not taken the job offering in the summer.
He told the Daily Record (page 46, 04/12/19): “A few years ago dad had the opportunity to go there [Newcastle] when he was at Birmingham. He rang me for my advice. I told him he’d be an idiot not to take it.
“He didn’t feel the time was right and he had to be loyal to the club that had been good top him. He regretted it ever since if the truth be known. This time and I said he’d better not turn the job down again otherwise I’d come after him with a shovel!”
A good weekend for the Bruce’s
Both father and son in the Bruce family enjoyed good footballing weekends. For Steve, he steered Newcastle to an unlikely point against Manchester City, which may alter the EPL title race.
Bruce got a point against City. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Alex meanwhile had a part to play in Kilmarnock’s Easter Road heroics. Despite finding themselves 2-0 down, Bruce netted to help Angelo Alessio’s side secure a 2-2 draw with Hibs.
They’ll also have different objectives for this season too. Alex will be aiming to push for Europe again with Killie whilst Steve’s main aim will be keeping Newcastle in the English top flight.
He’s at the Toon to protect himself from the wrath of his Kilmarnock son’s shovel, obviously. In all seriousness, Alex will no doubt be happy his dad chose Newcastle.