Former Gillingham player Steve Bruce agrees two-year deal to become head coach at League 1 Blackpool

Gillingham’s former player Steve Bruce is back in management after landing a role in League 1.

Bruce, whose professional playing career started at the Gills - where he went on to play over 200 times - has agreed a two-year deal to become Blackpool’s new head coach.

The 63-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by West Brom two years ago - with his long-time assistant Stephen Clemence also finding himself out of work.

There was talk of Bruce coming back to Gillingham as manager when Neil Harris got fired but it was Clemence who got the job.

Clemence managed 30 league games for the Gills but after finishing mid-table last season he was replaced by Mark Bonner in the summer.

Now managing at Barrow, Clemence has seen his new club enjoy a positive start to the season, sitting third in League 2 and with a trip to Chelsea coming up soon in the Carabao Cup third round.

With Clemence forging his own management career, Bruce has taken Steve Agnew, Richard Keogh, Stephen Dobbie and former Gills player Steve Banks as goalkeeper coach to Bloomfield Road.

It’s Bruce’s 13th job in management.

He said: “I’m delighted to be back in football and to take charge of this fantastic football club.

“I look forward to meeting all of the staff and players in the coming days as we prepare for what we all hope will be an exciting season at Bloomfield Road.”