Bruce: Why I signed new Sunderland deal

Mar 6 2011 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

STEVE BRUCE committed his future to Sunderland after receiving assurances that owner Ellis Short will continue to drive the club forward.

Bruce signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him on Wearside until 2014 after learning that Short would continue to finance his squad building and that chairman Niall Quinn also remained committed to the Black Cats.

And he admits that the behind-the-scenes unity at the club makes a pleasant change from the boardroom manoeuvring he has encountered elsewhere.

“I asked Niall about his situation and I made sure the owner still wants the club to go forward,” said Bruce.

“That’s not to say he’s going to be putting in £25m every year, but he definitely wants the club to go forward.

“And the good thing for me is that they let me get on and manage.

“There’s nothing going on behind my back, everyone at this club wants us to succeed.

“At some of the clubs I’ve been at before, that has not always been the case.”

Sunderland have made great strides under Bruce’s 18-month reign, and remain on course for their first top-10 Premier League finish in a decade.