Bruce says Man City still beatable

Wigan Manager Steve Bruce thinks Manchester City are still beatable this weekend despite the club's new-found wealth. However, he remains sceptical about the increasing number of club takeovers in the Barclays Premier League. The Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) became the latest new owners in the Premier League this week as they completed their £200 million takeover of Manchester City, who travel to the JJB Stadium to face Wigan on Sunday. Bruce was appointed Huddersfield manager in 1999 after Barry Rubery took charge and the Yorkshire millionaire moved on after failing to fulfil his ambition of steering the Terriers into the Premier League. Huddersfield then suffered two relegations in three years so although City's lucrative takeover has seen them become the 'richest club in the world', Bruce fears for their long-term security when the foreign investors sell up. "I managed a club a few years ago and Barry Rubery took over," he said. "He's certainly not got the same wealth as the Abu Dhabi group, but after about 18 months, he was fed up with it. He was fed up with putting his money in and the club then descended into chaos. "All you hope is that these so-called investors are in for the long haul. The worry at any football club is that when they take their ball home, what is left? "When they first march into a club, it's exciting for any particular manager or group of supporters being able to buy one of the world's big stars. "It shows their intent and it should be interesting times, but there is a downside of it." ADUG signalled the scale of their ambitions for the Blues by bankrolling the sensational deadline-day swoop for Brazilian star Robinho. That followed the arrival of Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips, and manager Mark Hughes is set to make a string of further big-name signings in January as City's new owners aim to qualify for next season's Champions League. But Bruce believes it will take time for City to become serious challengers to the Premier League's 'big four' and deliver the success their new investors crave. "With the addition of Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jo, if anybody's going to break into the top four, they've got an outstanding chance," he said. "But to do it overnight is always going to be difficult. Even Chelsea took a couple of years to really get the juggernaut going (after Roman Abramovich's takeover). "The teams City are competing against have been at the top end for 10, 15, 20 years, and we've seen often enough that money doesn't buy overnight success. "That's the challenge for them but there's exciting times ahead because of the wealth they've obviously got there." While Wigan have a more modest transfer kitty, Bruce insists he does not envy the wealth at his former Manchester United team-mate's disposal. The Latics boss feels he has a model chairman in Wigan owner Dave Whelan, who has allowed Bruce to strengthen his squad this summer and give them real hope of improving on last season's 14th-placed finish. "I think there are pangs of jealousy coming my way sometimes when I look at the chaos going on at other football clubs," Bruce added. "I've got a chairman here who lets you get on with it and manage the club the way it should be managed. He gives you a free rein with what you want to do and I have no real outside interference. "I'm very pleased with the job I've got, I'm enjoying the challenge of it immensely and I hope that continues."

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ITN | September 26, 2008