After the war he returned to
Ewood Park as assistant trainer and assistant secretary. During manager
Will Scott's absence through illness, Bruton took over the running of the club and on Scott's return was appointed assistant manager. He was the natural successor when Rovers' lack of consistency led to Scott finally vacating the manager's chair in December 1947. On taking control Bruton's immediate aim was to avoid the team's relegation from Division 1, but nine defeats in the last ten games sealed the club's fate. In an attempt to regain First Division status, Bruton signed
Dennis Westcott, a proven goal-scorer from
Wolves, and also unearthed an exciting prospect at left-back in the shape of
Bill Eckersley. However, success proved just as elusive and after the club finished in fourteenth place in the Second Division, Bruton was summoned to a board meeting and dismissed in May 1949. In 1950 he was appointed manager at
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, who played in the
Third Division South. He remained at
Dean Court for six years until 1956. After retiring as a manager he continued as a scout for both Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth and also for
Portsmouth. ==References==