Man Utd legend and ex-Newcastle United boss tipped for lowly League Two management homecoming

Manchester United legend Steve Bruce has been tipped as the leading candidate for the vacant Gillingham job following the sacking of Neil Harris last week.

The Gills were off to a flyer in League Two and topped the table after the opening four fixtures but four defeats in seven after that saw Harris dismissed with the club citing a desire to 'go in a different direction'.

It appears that direction could be former Newcastle United and Birmingham City boss Bruce, who has been out of work after leaving his West Brom role just eight months into an 18-month contract following a woeful start that saw the side sink to 22nd in the Championship. The 62-year-old manager has been around the block since his first role at Sheffield United in 1998, managing 11 clubs including Aston Villa, Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town.

Bruce of course enjoyed an impressive playing career before moving into the dugout, winning three Premier League titles and three FA Cup trophies while at Old Trafford. The defender made a total of 390 United appearances and is one of the club's most-ever capped players.

Bruce has history with Gillingham, having broken through at the club's youth academy when looking for his first taste of professional football. The Geordie had been turned away by Newcastle United, Sunderland, Derby County and Southport as a youth prospect before being taken on by the Kent club. At the time, Bruce played as a midfielder but was switched to defence by Gills youth coach Bill Collins, who the manager credits for kickstarting his career. Bruce went on to make over 200 appearances for Gillingham, winning Player of the Season twice, before moving to Norwich City in 1984.

The ex-Red Devil is the bookies' top candidate for the Gillingham job but other names in the running include Crawley Town boss and former Gills star Scott Lindsey, as well as ex-Charlton Athletic and MK Dons manager Karl Robinson.