How new man Alex Bruce fared on his Rotherham United media debut

Once, they were brothers in arms in the Sheffield Wednesday backline. Now, more than 20 years later, they're reunited in the same Rotherham United coaching team.

The first great moment of Bruce's playing career came alongside the man who would go on to become a legend at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The Millers' new head coach was a fledgling pro and on loan from Birmingham City when he and Wood stood firm as the Owls saw off Hartlepool United in the League One Play-off Final at the Millennium Stadium.

“2005, Jesus!” he grins. “Great times. I played with Woody. Later, I played against him a lot. He's been here for a while now, hasn't he.”

The pair have another mission on their hands: making sure Rotherham prosper in League Two next term following three miserable seasons in S60 that have brought a slide from the Championship to the basement division.

With them is recently-appointed assistant head coach Steve Agnew - like Wood, born in Yorkshire; like Wood, a man who knows what's required to get fans on board in God's own county.

“Steve has come in with me and helped me,” Norwich-born Bruce says. “He was brought up 10 miles down the road, so he knows what South Yorkshire is.

“He's given me a crash course in what the supporters will want. It sounds exactly what I would want in my team - hard work, a team that rolls its sleeves up, has a go, has a fight, gets the supporters on side, loves a tackle, loves a challenge and can play a little bit.

“The basics of hard work and effort are everything that I think a team should have as a minimum requirement. I want to build a team that can do that and give something the supporters can relate to. But talk is cheap. People will be saying: ‘I've heard all this before.’ I need to deliver. It might take a little bit of time, but I'll be trying my best to do it.”

The 41-year-old is speaking at the club's Roundwood training complex last Thursday, four days on from stepping into an EFL hot-seat for the first time after proving his worth as a coach at Salford City.

It's a 1pm ‘meet the media’ assignment that doesn't start until closer to 2pm. He's been tied to his phone since training finished, with every call centred on recruitment as he seeks to help build a squad capable of challenging promotion.

He's worth the wait as he steps into the interview room full of apologies and good nature. His dad, Steve, is renowned for his decency with the press and the trait has been passed from father to son.

The eye contact is immediate, the answers punchy and considered and there's a tactile friendliness about him. It's a first impression as polished as those gleaming pearly whites of his.

This will be one of the last press conferences in the homely space that has accommodated journalists for the previous two seasons. Roundwood is undergoing a revamp and better media provision is on a checklist that also includes a new meeting room, improvements to the gym and extra office space.

Paul Warne was the manager when the present structure was erected a decade ago and was available for advice when the latest boss was weighing up whether to make it his home.

“I shared my coaching badges with him,” Bruce says. “He's a great lad. I've always kept in contact with him. It's good to pick his brains. He knows the club, and I always enjoy a conversation with him.”

Wood, nine months younger than Bruce, and Agnew, 60, are milling around in the canteen. The former has been a Miller seemingly forever and needs no introduction. The latter, as fresh to the club as the head coach, pops his head around the door and says a quick ‘hello’.

Agnew, who cut his teeth as a midfielder with Barnsley and went on to play in the Premier League, has an impressive CV as a coach, much of it built up under Bruce Senior at clubs like Hull City, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion.

Bruce Junior has known him for more than 10 years and is delighted to renew acquaintance.

“In coaching, one thing that you must have is someone alongside you who you can trust,” he says. “I trust Steve with my life.

“I first came across him when I was a player at Hull and I thought back then what a good coach he was. He's got vast experience, he's been in all kinds of different scenarios and situations, so he'll help me enormously.”

The pair hold UEFA's top coaching qualification, the Pro Licence.

There's another Steve in the building - head of football McClaren - and he, too, ambles in while Bruce is otherwise indisposed.

After several weeks in the role, he seems at home in his new surroundings and is amiable company as he ruminates on football in general and South Yorkshire in particular. Already, some trust has built up between him and the local press pack and there's a bit of off-the-record stuff.

Later, meanwhile, Bruce's thoughts turn once more to that May 29 day in Wales when he and Wood were kid defenders in the team that climbed into the Championship with a 4-2 victory achieved in extra time.

“That was my first season in football,” the head coach says. “I went on loan to Oldham Athletic and then in the second half of the season I went to Sheff Wednesday. It was a long time ago. I've got a few more grey hairs now!”

Despite the passing years, he has complete recall of the afternoon.

“You came off in the 77th minute,” I venture. “Can you remember why?” “I was struggling with it before the game,” he fires straight back. “Groin strain.”

A certain someone had his back then and he's glad to feel that support again.

“”Woody's been a big help over the last few days,” he says. “He's a good character.”