Alex Bruce follows Steve McClaren’s lead in aiming high with Rotherham United
ALEX Bruce has joined his boss in setting his sights on a quickfire return to League One as Rotherham United bid to bounce back from the 2025/26 campaign that ended in the drop.
The 41-year-old has just been appointed head coach at AESSEAL New York Stadium following a coaching spell at Salford City and will work under new head of football Steve McClaren.
McClaren, who has been in his post for six weeks, has already targeted a promotion push and Bruce also referenced the 'p' word as he spoke of his hopes for next season.
“The first and foremost thing that I'm concentrating on at the minute is to build a team that can compete,” he said. “We've got a fair bit of work to do but I'm sure that when we get the right individuals in place we will be competitive in this division. I'm convinced of that.
“There hasn't really been any conversations about expectations, to be honest. The expectation is already there. Rotherham United are in League Two and they shouldn't be. I expect us to be competitive. If we are competitive and we're at the top end of the table, we will be going for promotion, just like a few other teams in and around the mix.”
Rotherham are in need of signings following a summer of departures and talks are taking place with a number of potential recruits.
Bruce believes that the Millers' standing in the game will make them an attractive proposition for players of fourth-tier level.
“I think I've walked into a very good football club, one I've respected enormously before I came here,” said the former centre-half. “I know a few people who've been in and around the club in the past and they speak very highly of it. When I first came and I saw the stadium and the training ground and the infrastructure for League Two, I thought: ‘We’ve got a chance.’
“The club's had a tough couple of years, we all know that, but it's a challenge and a project that I'm really excited about. The people I'm building around me will give me the best opportunity to meet the challenge head on.”
McClaren is a coach himself and has promised to be ‘hands on’ while Bruce has Steve Agnew and Richard Wood in his backroom team, with Richard Hartis set to take charge of the goalkeeping department.
Rotherham had previously considered Ian Burchnall and Mat Sadler in their quest for a head coach. The former landed an attractive job as assistant head coach at Bristol City and the Millers cooled on the latter as talks progressed.
That led them to contact Bruce who was fresh from helping Salford reach the League Two Play-off Final in which they were beaten by Notts County.
“I got a phone call from Steve and we just spoke football,” he said. “Steve told me about his vision, told me about his plans for the club, what he wants to build, and basically it snowballed from there.
“I came across for a meeting and we sat together for two hours - we spoke about the club, spoke about what's needs to happen, spoke about the past couple of years where it's been tough. We just put our heads together and it's come to this point.”
The Millers, who returned for pre-season training on Monday, have just announced a friendly match at non-league Emley on Tuesday July 14.
Meanwhile, their home clash with Championship West Bromwich Albion in the first round of the Carabao Cup will kick off at 5.30pm on Saturday August 8 and be televised by Sky Sports.
Bruce said of his first few days at Roundwood: “I've really enjoyed it. It's nice to be on the grass, to get the lads back. We've put them through their paces. I'm getting to know the players.”