STEVE BRUCE continues to split fan opinion nearly everywhere he goes - barring his home town of Newcastle.

The Geordie may be persona non grata with most on Tyneside for how they feel his time in charge of the Magpies went.

But supporters of many Championship clubs still respect what the second-tier promotion expert has to offer.

Though many of his current team, West Brom, are not completely convinced.

When fans of every Championship side were asked if their current boss was the right man to take them forward for Sky Bet’s Fan Hope Survey, the Baggies were the least enthused about their manager.

Fifty-three per cent still felt Brucie was the chief for them, signifying a slim majority. But given the average was 80 per cent, it is not exactly a ringing endorsement.

And yet the former Birmingham, Hull and Wigan boss was the second most popular choice when fans across all the clubs were asked who is currently the best Championship manager.

The 61-year-old, who has also bossed Sunderland and Huddersfield, took 11 per cent of the vote, finishing a close runner-up to Middlesbrough’s Chris Wilder.

It summed up the polarising element of Bruce, but he was not the only one seemingly more appreciated by supporters outside of his current club’s fanbase.

Norwich’s Dean Smith was voted third in the division’s top boss poll, yet the Canaries were one of the least keen on their incumbent, along with Bristol City, Wigan and Stoke.

Preston’s Ryan Lowe and Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom had the biggest approval rating of 97 per cent.

Jon Dahl Tomasson seems to have had a new manager bounce at Blackburn before he has even managed a game, as 93 per cent of Rovers fans backed the Dane.

The same can be said for Rob Edwards at Watford, while the Coventry faithful continue to appreciate the consistently great work of Mark Robins.

QPR’s hierarchy have seen something in Michael Beale to pluck him from Aston Villa where he was Steven Gerrard’s No2.

Yet fans across the division need to see evidence of his qualities on the pitch before giving him any credit as he received the joint fewest votes in the best boss category, along with Cardiff’s Steve Morison and Rotherham’s League One promotion specialist Paul Warne.

After Mssrs Wilder, Bruce and Smith, Sunderland’s Alex Neil, departed Huddersfield chief Carlos Corberan, Luton’s Nathan Jones, Millwall’s Gary Rowett, Bristol City’s Nigel Pearson and Reading’s Paul Ince were also rated highly.

But above that sextet came a man who has never managed in England before - yet needs no introduction.

Vincent Kompany, Manchester City’s legendary captain, has seemingly done enough at Anderlecht for many to think Burnley have made a shrewd move in hiring him.