Bruce: managers need time

Steve Bruce has called on clubs to give managers more time before they are sacked. Bruce has just taken charge of Wigan and feels that the demand of instant results is ruining the English game.

"The average survival rate of a manager in the Championship last season was one year and one month. That is unbelievable.

"And then we wonder why we can't produce a young English boss with the credentials to become a national team manager.

"I'll give you Paul Simpson as an example. He did wonders at Carlisle for two or three years, got them promoted, gets a job at Preston, does terrifically well, has a bad start to the season and... whoosh... he's gone.

"He was the next bright young manager. The frustrating thing is if you are not given time to turn around a club, how are we going to produce a top manager?"