Bradbury doing the business at Bournemouth: 'Could be the start of a 20-year career in management'

Last updated : 24 January 2011 By westfield shrimper
Bradbury: Delighted with his side's application

Lee Bradbury: 'I feel I could play for at least another couple of years'

Well, well, old badbuy is the temporary No. 1 at Dean Court after Eddie Howe at last made up his mind and joined Burnley in the Championship after turning down a number of suitors that included Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace, now managed by other ex-Blues in Chrissy Powell and Dougie Freedman respectively!

Bradbury told www.bournemouthecho.co.uk at the time: "It's a lucky break. There is a great togetherness and camaraderie among the squad and (Mitchell) didn't want to risk losing that. There is never a perfect time to hang up your boots or to go into management. I feel I could play for at least another couple of years. But the way I look at it, this could be the start of a 20-year career in management."

And the 35-year-old 11-club man hasn't done himself any harm with a goaless draw away to Rochdale on Tuesday in his first game, but then following up with a terrific 1-0 win over leaders Brighton Satuirday afternoon!

Bradbury said after the game: "The lads were a different class and they have been since I took over. I've told them you get out what you put in and they put a lot in and are getting a lot out of it. They are making my job easy. Brighton are one of the best passing teams in the league and we made them look decidedly average. We dealt with them well. That's two clean sheets in two games and I can't remember the last time we did that. I've got bits of paper all over the house which has upset my wife a bit, but you've got to prepare properly and we got the rewards."

Blimey, with the Cherries in second place, now only three points behind the Seagulls, the south coast side could be playing against their former boss sooner rather than later, and veteran Lee not such a target for an easy laugh here on S24 that he has been in the past.

League One Top Ten

1Brighton & Hove Albion 2484026953416101374421946+23
2Bournemouth 261012321026514171277462743+19
3Huddersfield Town 26833221251620201349423243+10
4Southampton 2574323951520131258432241+21
5Peterborough United 24913362532614211239504639+4
6Milton Keynes Dons 269222112319132512311343739-3
7Charlton Athletic 24633151545326201086413538+6
8Oldham Athletic 24652201743416171086363438+2
9Rochdale 2546219155351615997353036+5
10Colchester United 23562212035211118114323135+1

The Bradbury Files



Personal information
Full nameLee Michael Bradbury
Date of birth3 July 1975 (1975-07-03) (age 35)
Place of birthCowes, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionStriker, Defender
Club information
Current clubBournemouth
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1995-1997Portsmouth54(15)
1995 Exeter City (loan)14(5)
1997-1998Manchester City40(10)
1998-1999Crystal Palace32(6)
1999Birmingham City (loan)8(0)
1999-2004Portsmouth99(28)
2002-2003Sheffield Wednesday (loan)11(3)
2003-2004Derby County (loan)7(0)
2004Walsall8(1)
2004-2006Oxford United63(9)
2006-2007Southend United47(5)
2007Bournemouth (loan)1(0)
2007-2011Bournemouth112(10)
Teams managed
2011-presentBournemouth

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:58, 4 July 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Bradbury)