We don't want to believe this story. We've lived in denial for a while. But regrettably, we have to accept it as truth.
Like the rest of the civilised world, we were delighted to learn that Steve Bruce - Aston Villa manager, former Manchester United centre-half - was also a novelist.
Writing for Balls.ie, Seamus O'Reilly reviewed what most critics believe to be his magnum opus, 'Striker', a crime novel revolving around the shocking murder of Irish centre forward Pat Duffy.
Duffy is the striker of the book's title.
The narrator is the manager, one Steve Barnes of Leddersfield Town. In addition to being a football manager, Barnes fancies himself as a Sherlock Holmes style detective.
His other books are 'Defender' and 'Sweeper', less glamorous positions and thus much less successful commercially.
His son, the former Republic of Ireland and now Northern Ireland international Alex Bruce, appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live with Darren Fletcher of 'Fletch and Sav' fame.
Fletcher brought up Steve Bruce's stellar writing career but Lord we wish he hadn't.
For his son Alex punctured our joy by alleging that Steve Bruce had not in fact written a word of the books that wore his name on the cover.
Bruce insisted that his Dad can not take credit - or blame, to put it more accurately - for writing said books.
I think he was manager of Huddersfield Town at the time. And someone approached him and said "we've written these books, can we put your name to it?" But no, he can't take credit for writing anything.
It had been revealed that Steve Bruce was a budding novelist.
However, @AlexBruce84's revelation will break hearts: https://t.co/Jd79vzlNtO
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) October 21, 2016
His Fletch-ness said he exclaimed "no chance" when it was put to him that Brucey had written those books. He wasn't taken in. He's a better man than many.
We're devastated.
