Football Food For Thought / Frank Gregan / 11 June 2009 /

Frank Gregan knows better than most who is or isn't a Geordie and has no doubts about which category Steve Bruce comes under. More importantly he's the right man to take Sunderland to the next level...

I've been to Corbridge in Northumberland twice. I was born there and at the ripe old age of five days returned to the family home in Newcastle and never saw Corbridge again until I went to the races at Hexham a few years ago.

I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw the press reports about Steve Bruce joining Sunderland, the Mackem PR machine must have been working overtime trying to fathom how to spin the appointment of a Geordie to the Black Cats faithful. Steve Bruce and I were born in the same hospital and that was their get out of jail card.

It was inspirational. 'Northumberland born, Steve Bruce' was how they described him after researching that despite the fact he has been a Newcastle fan since birth, Bruce was born in Corbridge, a small market town between Newcastle and Hexham which had a maternity hospital which was used as an overflow by the Geordie city during the 50's and 60s.

Don't be fooled, he is as Geordie as Stottie Cake and Pease Pudding and probably knows all the words to all the verses of Blaydon Races and Fog on the Tyne! But that is not what the Mackems wanted to hear and given the perception that football is myopic and parochial, the supporters needed to be reassured that their club was not being placed in the hands of the enemy.

During his first interview Steve Bruce was cautious. "I'm from the North East of England" he declared. Oh no you're not Steve, you're a product of the Newcastle Schools Team and off the production line that created a generation of footballers - Wallsend Boys Club - just imagine what could have happened if your Dad had have been a Sheet Metal Worker!

But whether Bruce is a Geordie, a Scouse, a Cockney or a German is of no consequence, what he is first and foremost is arguably the finest English manager of his generation. He is a consummate professional and has proved that he can put head before heart by turning down previous overtures from his home town club and the embarrassment that is Mike Ashley before electing to link up with one of the most respected Chairman in football, Niall Quinn.

He has a strong backroom staff in Eric Black and Nigel Spink, both of whom will be joining him at the Stadium of Light. I signed Nigel as a player from Millwall and he finished his career with us in the Conference before taking over as manager. He is an exceptional coach not only to goalkeepers but defenders as well and possesses a tremendous work ethic.

His dry sense of humour is not bad either. Our second choice keeper was trying to impress upon him how smart the dressing rooms were at one of the better grounds in the Conference. Rushden I think it was. "It's very nice," said Spink surveying the surroundings, "but then again the San Siro wasn't bad either!" He'll need that sense of humour if Sunderland fail to make an improved start to the season because the Mackems are unlikely to give Steve Bruce much of a honeymoon period given his roots.

Betfairians have been impressed with the appointment, making Sunderland [8.6] to be relegated whereas the club that he left in a comfortable mid table slot, Wigan, are [5.4] to go down. There has been money traded on the Wearsiders in the 'winner without the big four' market and if you fancy that Bruce can fulfil the club's potential, a match in the region of [80.0] should be attainable. In reality it's unlikely to be a winning bet come the end of the season as the price iteslf suggests, but Bruce's appointment was rather a long shot too, so you just never know...

Sunderland supporters should welcome his appointment, regardless of his birthplace. They have secured the services of a fine manager with a clause inserted to ensure they are financially rewarded should Manchester United come knocking when Sir Alex Ferguson calls it a day. Could it be that Christano Ronaldo's preference for a Madrid lifestyle hastens that approach? A very tempting [28.0] should be available on the "Geordie" born manager taking the Old Trafford hot seat!

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