Wednesday 12 October 2016 18:40, UK
Steve Bruce has told Goals on Sunday that he has discussed the vacant managerial position with Aston Villa.
According to Sky sources, the former Hull City boss is the leading candidate for the role, closely followed by current interim boss Steve Clarke. It's also understood Villa will speak to Clarke about the job early this week.
Speaking to the Sky Sports show on Sunday morning, Bruce said: "I've had a chat with Villa and that's as far as it has gone.
"They said they were in a process, which you have to respect, so I'm hoping I hear something this week. It would be a terrific job, I'm sure everyone would agree Villa are one of the big clubs of this country and they need a little bit of turning around at the moment.
"But they have huge support and they're a big, big club so hopefully I hear something this week."
The struggling Sky Bet Championship club are searching for a new manager having dismissed Roberto Di Matteo after just 12 games last week.
Bruce resigned from Hull in the summer following a dispute over transfer policy and was on the list of candidates to be the England manager after Euro 2016. He previously managed Villa's city rivals Birmingham.
Some Villa fans may have reservations over appointing another former Birmingham boss. Alex McLeish lasted just 11 months before he was sacked in May 2012.
Asked if he may have second thoughts on the new role on the back of McLeish's experiences, Bruce added: "That's the big thing everyone has to weigh up but that was 10 years ago, you can't go over the past.
"At the end of the day I'm a football manager who's out of work and I still think I've got something offer. I've been there and done it in the Championship.
"You'd rather be in the Premier League, who wouldn't, but if the opportunity arose it would be something I would seriously consider because of what the club has to offer.
"Most people have come to accept that it [McLeish] was 10 years ago and I think Alex walked from the Birmingham job into Villa. But there have been people in the background that have worked for both clubs so I don't think in this day and age it would be a big problem, I hope not anyway."
In the meantime, Clarke remains in charge on a caretaker basis. Sky Sports News HQ understands the club will be speaking with him about the manager's job early this week.
