Happy to be back home, says Black Cats boss Bruce

Jul 24 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Steve Bruce has only been back in the North East a few weeks but he has already made big plans for the future as Sunderland manager. Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards reports

He said: “It’s very hard to establish yourself in the Premier League, but Sunderland have been in the top flight for two seasons now and we’ve got to try and progress from there.

“We want to be an established Premier League side for the next 10 years and then we will see the true potential of this football club. We have got a foothold, now its time for the club to grow and that is what I’ve been brought in to try and do.

“In some respects, Sunderland have done the hard work because they have come and stayed there.

“It’s so hard when clubs are constantly moving up and down between the divisions and hopefully those days are behind us now.

“You can never take anything for granted, as we have seen with what has happened down the road at Newcastle, but we want Sunderland to be a Premier League club for many years to come.”

Significantly, Bruce believes the foundations are already in place for the Black Cats to throw off their yo-yo tag as he praised the work done by predecessor Roy Keane (right) and chairman Niall Quinn.

He said: “I have to say about Roy and Niall, they have put together a fantastic football club.

“For a manager to walk in and find it like this, they couldn’t have helped me any more. It is up to me to continue that good work.”