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Writer: turfmanphil 
Date:Friday May 4 2012
Time: 4:35PM
UK time is: 13:23:48
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Rumour Mill-Alex the Bruce Anyone?
Burnley are considering a move for former Leeds United defender Alex Bruce according to Sky Sports.
The 27-year-old is now available on a free transfer after seeing out his contract at Elland Road and is thought to be looking for a new challenge at a club where he could feature more often in the first team.
Former Leeds boss, Simon Grayson did not give Bruce much opportunity this season although he did come into the first-team reckoning more often under new gaffer, Neil Warnock and played seven times following the his arrival in February.
Eddie Howe is thought to be admirer of the Republic of Ireland international and former Birmingham and Ipswich central defender with Sky Sports suggesting he could be prepared to offer him a deal early in order to beat the rivals for his signature.
It is not the first time we have been linked with the player but he could be a more attractive proposition to the club now that he is out of contract and could sign on a Bosman.
Although mainly used as a central defender, he can also play at full back so offers more options in defence.
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Your Comments
We have debated this link before and if I recall the general consensus was we could do better! What do folks think now? Looks like we will be up for cut-price budget deals now, so a freebie is bound to be attractive but is he the right player for our back four? Bit equivocal on this to be honest
turfmanphil
We the start of bargin bucket player time at the turf. I not sure how good this guy is, surely if he is good enough Leeds would not want to let him walk away and it cant be wages can it considering we are not going to be offering a fortune. I think this type of deal is going to be par for course during this summer. This is the reality of the new financial rules we are going to have to operate under.
deadlydave
When I have seen him I have always thought he was a useful player - Not sure if he is a 'top 6 team starter' though.
Claretdale
A Leeds fan here. A few were surprised that Bruce wasnt given and extension. He was unfairly treated and never got a chance under Grayson and seemed to be made the scapegoat for any poor defensive performances. He has played well since Warnock arrived an d had a couple of Man of the Match performances. I wish him well.
erni
I'm with erni on this .... never had a fair crack of the whip at Leeds. Always looked decent when I saw him (although compared to the rest of our defence, I'D probably look good - and I'm 52). Most folks had him as MoM when we drew with Arsenal at New Highbury in the Cup last season .....
Yorkshrman
So sounds ok for a squad player.
Grimsby Claret
I think some of us need a reality check, we can't afford Rio or Anton and anyone we sign will have to cope with our wage structure of not paying over the odds, if Bruce fits the bill sign him up.
VinRogue
Not convinced, but as someone has said, he is both versatile and cheap, so maybe??!! :-)
whentheballmoves
I remember watching his New Highbury MoM performance on telly and wondering if he played like that every game. I would not be unhappy if we signed him. Sounds like he's hungry, but with that bit of extra experience we want to add to the squad.
Couch Potato
Very true VR. I would go so far as to say BFC will spend far less than what we make in the close season transfer market. We have to rely on EH and his team to spot undiscovered talent and weld it into a winning team. A hard job with lots of competition but can and must be helped with the right forward looking attitude from the Board.
cornwallclaret
As usual VR has got this right. Our average crowd is around the 14k mark and most of those are ST holders. Where do people think the money is going to come from to buy players above Championship level? Bruce is a solid enough player at this level and one that probably fits in our range. Could do a lot worse.
RickersTwickers
Sadly the money should have come from a more bullish approach trying to keep us up in 2009-10 and coughing up for key players of top quality who might have subsequently got us promoted back to the Prem like Jack Cork! We didn't and now we are reaping the rewards of midtable mediocrity as we return to a woe-is-me,pleading poverty small town club as many fans predicted. I dread to think where we might be now if it were not for the parachute money. It is SO important that this club gets back to the Prem if we are ever going to get the financial monkey off our back and can truly begin to compete again. That requires thinking out the box and occasionally going the extra mile to bring in players of the right quality. I fear with FIFA Fair Play we are going to be further scuppered and will once again have to rely on sticking plaster
turfmanphil
This guy looks like a good player to me, started off at Man Utd for his youth career and did well at Ipswich. He never really got a chance at Leeds but when he did he played well. I would definitely take this guy for free, he looks like he could be exactly what we need at the back.
AdamBurnleyFan
Certainly willing to take a punt on him with money so tight!
turfmanphil
Sorry tmp, Cork is a bad example, we offered the same amount as Sothampton did, Chelsea accepted both bids and left it up to the player. Southampton have superb facilities and were prepared to pay him £20k +, its a no brainer, take a tour tmp of Gawthorpe revamped and then you will realise that our football club is climbing and building for a sustained future. Bolton and Rovers could go into financial meltdown next year even with the Parachute payments. The fiancial monkey on our back is as RT puts it so wisely home gates of 14k. When one player can cost you 8 Million plus his weekly wage of say 25k, I guess you need close to 10 million to finance it. Take a look at Hull and Bullard to see how easy it is to pin your hopes on one player. We are what we are, we all would like to have a rich sugar daddy investing in the club but until that day lets stick with reality.
VinRogue
Yes and we should have offered Cork the same salary! Simple as! if you want to get the greater financial reward you have to speculate to accumulate!It's no use hiding behind pleading poverty all the time! The club shoiuld have been taking Gawthorpe into the stratosphere after a year in the Prem and would have been had they had more financial balls to try and stay up in the first place. West Brom in the Prem have a gate of 22,000 or so and we averaged about 20,000 in the Prem. We could and should have easily emulated the Baggies! Had we done so, we would not be having this woe-is-me discussion now
turfmanphil
In fairness Phil, I think it is you having the woe is me. West Brom have yo-yo'd to get where they are now. For every West Brom there is a Portsmouth, Hull, Charlton, Birmingham, West Ham, Blackpool etc. How do we know that the club didn't offer Cork the same salary and he just picked the club with the better infrastructure and rich owners?
VinRogue
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