Steve Bruce concerned about Aston Villa future following Thierry Henry rumours

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 22 July 2018

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce concedes that the club's new backers "might want to sweep things clean" by bringing in a new manager before the season starts.

Steve Bruce has confessed that he is concerned about his future as Aston Villa manager following rumours of Thierry Henry being lined up for the job.

The former Arsenal striker, who has coaching experience with the Belgium national side, is said to have been earmarked as a possible option by the club's new wealthy owners.

Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and American financier Wes Edens intend to meet early next week to decide whether to stick or twist in the dugout, leaving Bruce somewhat in limbo as he prepares for the new campaign.

"The new owners might want to sweep things clean and have their own man in," he is quoted as saying by The Sun. "All the indications I've heard are that's not the case but until I get in front of them we won't know. That meeting could be as early as Tuesday, obviously the quicker, the better.

"I blurted my coffee this morning when I read about [the Henry rumours]; my phone was going crazy. Whether there's any substance to it I really can't tell you. Aston Villa is big news and because it's a big club which makes big headlines. We'll know more in the week.

"But as I keep stressing it's not really about me, I'm delighted for the club itself. If you buy Aston Villa you've got to have deep pockets and it looks as if these guys have that. Let's embrace it. For the football club this is fantastic news."

Bruce has been working under financial constraint this summer, with Villa yet to bring in a single new player.