i reckon there's a fucking stand-off between bruce and ashley.
bruce won't quit, ashley wont sack him.
explains all the bizarre ranting and swearing, and also the who fuck else is going to do better than me quotes, and the reminder of the almost continuous lack of top half finishes under ashley.
he's desperate to get out man.
even alex bruce's tone has changed recently. its not about how great his dad is, more about why he's struggling. he just wants his dad out too.