Bruce: Most Difficult Season Yet

Last updated : 30 April 2007 By Brian Cartlidge

Blues are back in the top flight after Crystal Palace won 2-0 against Derby County on Sunday.

"It's fantastic to go back up but this has been my hardest and most difficult season in management," Bruce has said.

"Being relegated is horrible and you must get the faith back of the fans and the people who employ you. I had to try to restore a bit of my reputation.

"We've hardly been out of the top six, been top of the table eight times and yet we seem to have been in crisis.

"There have been a load of fans who wanted me through the door and only a few weeks ago the fans were chanting 'you don't know what you are doing' during one game.

"But now they might look at the bigger picture and think 'he hasn't done a bad job again'.

"To try to rebuild the squad quickly, with essentially young players sprinkled with a little bit of experience, was a tough call. The expectations were enormous.

"Before I came here the club had not been in the Premier League for many years but after four seasons in there, there is an expectation that we should be back there.

"We had to do it with young players who had not had the expectation on their shoulders at clubs like Luton, Cardiff and Colchester but they have handled it in the right way."