Sean Dyche has revealed how Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce helped save his managerial career while he was in charge of rivals Sunderland .
The Burnley boss began his career in the dugout at Watford in 2011, but pressure mounted from the outset after a poor start to the season which saw the Hornets pick up just two wins in their opening 14 matches.
Acting chairman Graham Taylor stood by the manager - but there was another factor which ensured Dyche remained at the club until the end of the season.
Speaking to the Mirror , the 48-year-old believes the signing of Nyron Nosworthy from Sunderland for a "pitiful amount" helped secure his short-term future at Vicarage Road.
Without Bruce sanctioning the deal, Dyche reckons he could have suffered the fate of other first-time managers who couldn't make the grade.
Dyche said: “I was getting absolutely mullered.
“Graham, bless his soul, said, ‘Hang on a minute – this fella is answering every one of your questions with candour and honesty, so let’s show him some courtesy’.
“Graham was a powerful influence at Watford, rightly so, and you could feel the shift in attitude. I’ll never forget that.
“And Steve Bruce saved my career by selling us Nyron Nosworthy from Sunderland for a pitiful amount.
"Without those two twists of fate, who knows where I could have ended up? Maybe another first-time manager who had a go but didn’t make it.”
