Alex Bruce has defended his father Steve Bruce after BBC pundits questioned his absence during Sheffield Wednesday's 3-0 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea.
Steve accepted the job to become Wednesday's new manager earlier this month but is going to start the role on February 1.
The new Wednesday boss lost his mother and father just weeks apart last year and has recently been spending his time watching the England cricket team in Barbados.
Danny Murphy questioned the decision when he said: 'I think the big problem is he's making a rod for his own back.
'He managed (Wednesday's fierce rivals) Sheffield United and now he said he would take this job.
'The club have to take some blame for allowing him to say 'I'll take it but not until then'.
'They facilitated that which is wrong. If he starts poorly do you think the Sheffield Wednesday fans are not going to bring this up?
'You're sunning yourself watching the cricket for whatever reason. It's not something any manager I've played under would have done.'
Alex Bruce came to his father's defence on Twitter by saying: 'Maybe if Ruud and Danny had been managing since 1998, lost a father, a mother, a job, had health issues of his own to to cope with all in the space of around six months they and others would understand why he needed a short break from football.'
Ruud Gullit also debated the decision, saying: 'If it was Manchester United do you think he would have done the same?
'I'm just thinking about the year he's had off the field,' Alex Scott responded before being abruptly shutdown by Gullit.
Gullit hit back: 'No, no, no, no, no. If it was Man Utd in the same moment, would he then do the same thing?'
Scott simply answered: 'I suppose you'll have to ask Steve Bruce that.'