Steve Bruce re-issues location plea for West Brom stars - but he won't be moving closer

Steve Bruce has re-issued his warning to West Bromwich Albion players that he wants them to cut down on the commuting next season.

But he has defended his own decision to travel in from Cheshire. The Baggies will be in the Championship next season after failing to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs. It has been a disappointing campaign following relegation from the Premier League, with Bruce drafted in to replace Valerien Ismael in February.

His appointment has failed to provide the necessary spark however, and the four-times promotion winner is already turning his attentions to next season - starting with a demand for all players to be within a sensible radius of the training ground.

Bruce said: “I have told them all (they all have to be within an hour of the training ground). Where we are going to finish in the league is not good enough. I have put forward what I would like to do next year – that is a rebuild of the squad. And the players that are here – along with the ones we bring in – have got to commit.

“We have too many people travelling and that cannot be good for you. That is not good for you as a professional. I’ve pointed that out. And going forward that is the way we will look at it. They have been positive towards that change. I think they understand my feelings on it."

It follows comments made by Bruce earlier this month where he said goalkeeper David Button, whose family home is down on the South coast, needed to move closer if he is to get a fresh deal.

Bruce said: "He (Button) won't live in Brighton anymore if he wants new (contract) talks. It's something we have to address. I don't think travelling more than an hour can be good for you. We have got eight or nine who travel and I don't think