A former Sunderland manager is reportedly in the running for the Burnley job.
Sunderland have already been punished for searching for a new manager at the same time as their recently relegated rivals.
Burnley understandably take higher ground in their pursuit, with Liam Rosenior opting against joining the Black Cats in the hope that he will land the job at Turf Moor.
While it is believed that Rosenior joins Scott Parker and Frank Lampard in the Clarets’ final three-man shortlist, a former Sunderland head coach is also said to have been considered for the role.
Steve Bruce is on Burnley’s radar
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Steve Bruce has ‘had his name raised’ in the conversation, however he believes he is quite low down on their list of targets.
The 63-year-old has been out of work since leaving West Brom in 2022, while it has been around 13 years since his two-and-a-half year stint at Sunderland came to an end.
Bruce certainly isn’t a name that fits into Burnley’s shortlist, but it now seems extremely unlikely that he would actually be a contender to replace Vincent Kompany.
The former defender is a coach that continued to get good jobs purely because of his experience in management, not because he had done well.
Bruce left a number of his roles – including Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa – with supporters desperate to see him gone, yet continued to pick up jobs left right and centre.
Sunderland can still hope Liam Rosenior doesn’t get the job
There is no chance of Bruce beating Parker, Lampard or Rosenior in the race for the Burnley vacancy, though Sunderland could still hope that it isn’t the latter that lands the role.
The former Hull City manager could still be on the hunt for a new job if he doesn’t move to Lancashire, potentially giving Sunderland the opportunity to swoop back in.
At this point it doesn’t matter if the Black Cats weren’t Rosenior’s first choice. If he becomes available again then he is likely to be their best option.