Despite Bracewell and his team mates making it to the FA Cup final a year later, they had a very disappointing league season and finished 17th in the Second Division. Meanwhile, Sunderland's local rivals Newcastle United were being rejuvenated by their new manager Kevin Keegan, who offered Bracewell the chance of being part of their Division One promotion push (1992--93 saw the Second Division renamed Division One due the creation of the FA Premier League from the old First Division) and he accepted this offer.
Kevin Keegan
Bracewell