Soccer: Bruce return not ruled out

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has admitted he would consider allowing Steve Bruce back as manager of his club.

Bruce walked out on Palace last week after learning of Birmingham’s interest in him.

But Jordan is refusing to let him talk to Palace’s Division One rivals and has threatened to allow the situation to drag on indefinitely.

Bruce has had no contact with Palace since his resignation, but Jordan refused to rule out taking him back.

He said: ‘‘I would have to sit down and look at that situation.

‘‘I would have to assess why that u-turn has come about if it happened and gauge how genuine it was.

‘‘Only then would I make a decision. It would be difficult because the fans are screaming for his head, and their trust in him would be gone.

‘‘But on the other hand these things can change. Certain sections of the fans who didn’t want him in the first place ended up cheering him on after a couple of weeks.

‘‘I’m sensible enough to have an open mind about it.’’

Jordan also revealed his failure to sign Steve Vickers was a factor in Bruce’s resignation.

Protracted negotiations to sign the 34-year-old Middlesbrough defender for £500,000 broke down, and Jordan admitted he did not see eye-to-eye with his manager over the deal.

He said: ‘‘I’m sure Steve Bruce will give our failure to sign Vickers as a reason for justifying him wanting to talk to Birmingham.

‘‘But several things brought that deal to an abrupt stop, and I wasn’t prepared to have outrageously diabolical liberties taken with me.’’

Vickers played seven games on loan for Palace during their unbeaten sequence of wins, helping a notoriously leaky defence keep four clean sheets.

But after two weeks of talks about a permanent move south Jordan was furious when conditions were added to the deal and he pulled the plug after the player failed to agree terms.

He added: ‘‘The player refused to move down here. He wanted to train at Middlesbrough twice a week because of the travelling.

‘‘He demanded £250,000 more per year than we had agreed, and the football club demanded £100,000 more on the fee.

‘‘On top of that he would only come if given an assurance from Steve Bruce that he was staying.

‘‘That’s ridiculous conduct. If someone is not willing to compromise then it’s no deal.’’

Vickers now wants to join Bruce if he takes the vacant manager’s job at Birmingham.