Who Steve Bruce has blamed for Blackpool FC sack - Tangerines fans may disagree | OneFootball

Steve Bruce has revealed what he believes cost him his job at Blackpool following his exit from Bloomfield Road.

Former Blackpool head coach Steve Bruce has claimed that the club's poor recruitment was to blame for his sacking at Bloomfield Road.

After almost two years out of management following his departure from West Bromwich Albion, Bruce made a surprise return to football when he replaced Neil Critchley at Blackpool last September.

The Tangerines were without a win and sitting in the relegation zone when Bruce took charge, but they improved steadily under the 64-year-old over the course of the season, and they eventually finished the campaign in ninth place, with too many draws ultimately costing them a play-off spot.

While Bruce could not guide Blackpool into the top six last season, the strong form after his arrival offered hope that a promotion push could be on the cards this time around, with many tipping his side to be one of the potential dark horses in League One.

However, it did not work out that way, and after the Seasiders picked up just eight points from their first 11 league games, Bruce was dismissed earlier this month, with a 2-0 home defeat to newly-promoted AFC Wimbledon proving to be the final straw for owner Simon Sadler.

Blackpool have continued to struggle since Bruce's departure, and they now sit bottom of the table after securing just one point from two games under caretaker Stephen Dobbie, but former defender Ian Evatt was appointed as the club's new manager this week, and the ex-Bolton Wanderers boss will be hoping to inspire an upturn in fortunes, starting against Peterborough United on Saturday.

Steve Bruce slams Blackpool recruitment following Bloomfield Road sacking

As they looked to launch a promotion push, Blackpool brought in 13 new signings this summer, with Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Franco Ravizzoli, Danny Imray, Fraser Horsfall, Michael Ihiekwe, Jordan Brown, George Honeyman, Malcolm Ebiowei, Josh Bowler, Emil Hansson, Scott Banks, Niall Ennis and Dale Taylor all arriving at Bloomfield Road.

The Tangerines did lose two of their key players, with Sonny Carey and Rob Apter both making the move to Charlton Athletic, but after their summer recruitment drive, many believed they had a squad capable of competing for promotion.

However, in his first interview since leaving Bloomfield Road almost three weeks ago, Bruce has hit out at the club's recruitment, and he claims that mistakes made in the transfer market ultimately cost him his job.

During an appearance on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast with Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Paddy McGuinness, Bruce was discussing the situation at his former club Manchester United, but he could not resist taking a dig at the Blackpool recruitment team.

"I think the most important thing this year for United anyway is that they've bought well," Bruce said.

"That's crucial these days.

"I know with what's happened to me at Blackpool where the recruitment side has probably, in the end, cost me my job because it's so vital."

Bruce won 22, drew 16 and lost 21 of his 59 games in charge of the Seasiders in total, giving him a win percentage of 37.3%, but only three of those victories came this season, and his successor Evatt will now be looking to keep the club in League One after their underwhelming start.

While Blackpool's summer signings have turned out to be as strong as they looked on paper, there is no doubt that there should be enough talent in the squad to be significantly higher than their current league position.

The Tangerines' squad should certainly share some of the blame for their disappointing start to the season, but Bruce must also take responsibility for the poor results he oversaw in the opening months of the campaign, and it is difficult for him to point the finger at the recruitment team too much given they signed a host of proven League One performers this summer.

Bruce was given plenty of time to turn Blackpool's fortunes around before his sacking, but Sadler had little choice but to part company with him as the club were dragged deeper into relegation trouble, and it remains to be seen if his departure from Bloomfield Road will mark the end of his illustrious managerial career.