Blackpool Sacks Manager Steve Bruce After Poor League One Start

Steve Bruce has been sacked as manager of Blackpool following a poor start to the 2025/26 League One season, with the club languishing second bottom after just 11 games. Despite leading the team to a ninth-place finish last season after replacing Neil Critchley in September 2024, Blackpool suffered seven defeats and only two wins this term. Bruce, who took responsibility for the disappointing performances, was also booed by fans during a 2-0 home loss to AFC Wimbledon, which proved to be the tipping point for his dismissal. Alongside Bruce, assistant head coach Steve Agnew and first-team coach Stephen Clemence have also left the club. Interim management duties have been handed to Stephen Dobbie and Steve Banks while the club searches for a permanent replacement. Blackpool had hoped to improve after significant investment in the squad but have instead continued their decline since their Premier League days in 2010/11, with Bruce's departure signaling a need for a new approach to reverse their fortunes.