Steve Bruce interested in Republic of Ireland vacancy

Former Newcastle and West Brom manager Steve Bruce spoke exclusively to Ladbrokes: Fanzone about his interest in the Republic of Ireland vacancy.

Republic of Ireland job would suit me

I’m led to believe I’m there or thereabouts in the betting for the Ireland job. It’s a job that would interest me, that’s for sure. You know, as I’ve said, I’ve had a bit of time out and I’m itching to get back into the game, and something like that would suit me. Let’s see if the phone rings. It’s one of those – are they going to make an approach? At this moment in time, I really don’t know. But I’ve seen the betting sites and read the rumours, like everybody else.

At the moment I can’t really comment on it because there’s been no connection.

I know a couple of the lads in that team well – most recently, of course, I’ve worked with Dara [O’Shea] and [Jayson] Molumby. Dara, in particular, is probably having a difficult time at the moment with Burnley, but what a compliment it was for him to have been signed by Vincent Kompany.

Dara has great leadership skills and he plays with a wonderful attitude. He never knows when he’s beaten. He’s a fierce competitor…as tough as they come, in fact.

It’s time to go to back to work

This is the longest I’ve been out of the game. I was unbroken for something like 46 years, and unfortunately, I’ve had a year out, now. I’ve been busy building a house over the last couple of years, so I’ve got myself involved with that. But, look, it’s time that I go back to work again. I’m itching to go back in, not necessarily as a manager. I wouldn’t mind helping a young manager, helping a club in any way. I’d like to think that after 46 years, if someone asked me a question about football, I’d be able to answer it.

I’d like to get back involved in some capacity. If it’s management, great. If it’s not, that’s also fine. Maybe consultancy, something along those lines. That sporting director role rings a nice bell for me. I think that would be a nice gig.

I’ve had a break from it, but I’ve missed it. Especially those Saturday afternoons. These days, Saturday afternoon is a difficult time for me. I’ve forced myself to have this break, because I’ve never had one before, so we’ll see what happens now.

I’d hope my wife would say the last 12 months, with me around, have been wonderful! I have to say she’s been so supportive of me over the years, and I think she needed a break from football, too. She’ll have had enough of seeing my miserable face when we get beat! Your family have to read this awful stuff which gets said about you, and so I think we’ve all needed a break from it. We’ve been able to go to places we always said we’d go when we got the chance. We’ve had 12 months off, but I think she’s ready to kick me out and tell me to get back to work!

I have been asked the question as to whether I’d go in the jungle for I’m A Celebrity. Who knows? Maybe one day that’ll come! You get offered a lot of media when you’re out of work. But for me, it was important that I got away from it all, totally. I went completely quiet. I was sick of seeing myself on TV, or hearing myself on the radio, so I purposely made sure I cut myself off from it all. But in the last month or so, I’ve felt ready to get back to work.