Blues Tell Colchester: 'NO!'

Eric Black will not be leaving Brucie's side to take on managerless Colchester.

Speaking on the official site, Steve Bruce said:

'Colchester approached for Eric and we made our intentions clear, that he wasn't going anywhere, and he's agreed to stay.'

'Anyone who has seen him, or has worked with him, knows exactly what he is all about and he's very, very good.

'I think it's 'in' at the moment, the young, tracksuit manager, after a couple of people have done well.

'And if any club has done their homework, then they are going to consider Eric.'

'Any club needs a bit of stability, and that relationship with my number two is vitally important, I suppose now we are as close as we have ever been because of what happened to us last season and the departure of John Benson.

'I have got a wafer-thin staff, but we are a very tight-knit group and I am enjoying having that one-to-one relationship.

'Sometimes you can have too many opinions, but when you work together with one other person it's a little bit easier.

'I'm sure some day he will become a number one, if he wants to be a number one that is.'

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