What can Aston Villa expect from manager-to-be Steve Bruce?

Their owner Dr Tony Xia is expected to make an announcement regarding a new manager in time for Saturday’s televised game against local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. But if the latest odds are anything to go by, there’s only one name in contention for the vacant role, and that’s Steve Bruce.

Ladbrokes News takes a look at reasons for appointing the 55-year-old, and what he can bring to the West Midlands club.

Promotion

Outside of the Premier League, Bruce is one of the most successful managers in English football, having gained promotion from the Championship to the top-flight a staggering four times.

Despite Villa’s poor start to the season, a 10-point gap between themselves and a play-off spot is something which Bruce will expect to close over the coming weeks, especially given the wealth of talent he’d have at his disposal.

Experience

Another name that Dr Xia reportedly wants in the hotseat is David Wagner. But while he’s impressed so far this season in charge of Huddersfield Town who sit at the top of the table, he doesn’t boast anywhere near the kind of managerial experience that Bruce does.

Since trading his boots for suits, the former Manchester United defender has managed seven different sides in total, including two spells at Wigan Athletic and six years and Villa’s bitter rivals Birmingham City.

A man in-demand

Given Bruce’s CV, it’s no surprise his name gets thrown around whenever a vacancy becomes available at some of the country’s bigger clubs.

And Aston Villa’s current situation would certainly make the acquisition of the former Blues boss a real coup, especially as the Premier League sack race heats up.

Make no mistake, if Dr Xia doesn’t act soon, someone else will.

Backing of the board

Though this Villa side are yet to get going in the Championship, you can’t knock their new owner for trying.

He spent just shy of £50m on new recruits in the summer, and although fans may question whether the right players have arrived, one can only assume such transfer activity is a sign of things to come, providing the Villans make an immediate return to the top-flight.

Given that Bruce has reportedly fallen out with clubs in the past over lack of finances, it’s safe to say he wouldn’t have the same problem at Villa.

While Steve Clarke is temporarily in charge of the first-team following Roberto Di Matteo’s dismissal last week, it’s widely thought that a new man will be in charge for the visit of Wolves this Saturday.

But will it be Steve Bruce? And is he the man fans want?

Have your say in the comments section below!

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing