Blackpool dismiss Steve Bruce after torrid start to League One campaign | OneFootball

Blackpool have sacked veteran manager Steve Bruce after a dismal opening to the League One season left the club sitting just one place off the bottom of the table, BBC Sport reports.

Bruce, 64, departs Bloomfield Road just over a year into his tenure, following Saturday’s 2–0 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon, the Seasiders’ seventh loss in 11 games. The result was met with boos from home supporters, reflecting the growing unrest surrounding the team’s faltering form.

Speaking after the match, Bruce admitted his side “were nowhere near what’s required” and accepted full responsibility for the poor display. “I can try and make as many excuses as I want, but it’s not in my nature to do it,” he said.

Assistant head coach Steve Agnew and first-team coach Stephen Clemence have also departed, with academy coaches Stephen Dobbie and Steve Banks taking interim charge while the club searches for a permanent replacement.

Bruce’s tenure began promisingly last season, guiding Blackpool to a ninth-place finish and raising hopes of a promotion push. However, despite significant summer investment and experienced recruits such as George Honeyman and Fraser Horsfall, the team’s early-season form has unravelled.

A manager of over 1,000 games, Bruce’s latest chapter, his 13th managerial post, ends in disappointment, casting uncertainty over his career’s future direction.

GFN | Finn Entwistle