Matt Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Steve Bruce has officially opened talks with Sunderland after the Wearside club agreed a £3million compensation package with Wigan.Sunderland's new owner Ellis Short and chairman Niall Quinn had identified the former Birmingham boss as their top target following Ricky Sbragia's resignation. But Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has dug his heels in over compensation after he paid the St Andrews club £3m two years ago. Now the two clubs have reached a compromise, Bruce's appointment is expected to be announced in the next 24 hours and he will be unveiled when he returns from his summer holiday. Short and Quinn wanted an experienced manager to take the club forward after Sbragia just managed to see off relegation following Roy Keane's shock departure before Christmas. And although Bruce, who was born in Corbridge, is a renowned Newcastle supporter, the former Manchester United defender is regarded as the ideal man who can build a squad and enjoy the finances Short hopes to make available. The American businessman has already worked with the previous board to fund Keane's £90m spending spree over two years and last week he said he is willing to increase his personal investment to avoid further battles against relegation. Bruce, who is expected to bring his extensive coaching staff from Wigan, has grown dissatisfied with the task there after selling Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios in January and facing the sale of Luis Antonio Valencia this summer. Whelan meanwhile is now expected to make a move for Swansea manager Roberto Martinez.
StanSP Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Not too fussed really. THink he's done quite a good job at Wigan and the question remains can he do anymore there? Wll be a good move for Sunderland I feel though.
Jon the Hat Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Good manager. Gets on with the job. have signeda few good players over the years.
Bakey Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Very big loss for Wigan and the possible transfer of Valencia could also prove a big loss.
welck12 Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Good manager. Gets on with the job. have signeda few good players over the years. Shame he has about as much loyalty as a pair of socks though. The second he gets offered a job he's gone regardless of who it is...
breadandcheese Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Shame he has about as much loyalty as a pair of socks though. The second he gets offered a job he's gone regardless of who it is... If the reports are true about the size of investment these new owners are prepared to put in, he could build Sunderland into a team challenging for a European place. They've got some good players in their squad.
Shrenchel Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Hopefully Wigan will fook off back to where they came from. In 10 years they'll be playing infront of 5,000 again.
Maybes Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Shame he has about as much loyalty as a pair of socks though. The second he gets offered a job he's gone regardless of who it is... Sunderland > Wigan. I cant fault him to be honest. Sunderland are a much bigger club and Dave Whelan the Wigan chairman is a seemingly good bloke and will not stand in his way of him wanting to progress.
Tommeh Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 A Manager I do like going from a club I like to a club I don't. Shit.
Granno Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Bruce has dug up some cracking signings. Good signing for Sunderland.
Flynny Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 I hope this is the start of the demise of Wigan. I feel the same yet I can't imagine people saying the same about Fulham just because Hodgson is so popular.
flanimal Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Yep, Wigan should be packing their bags. The days of them cluttering up the Premier League table will be over soon enough, I expect.
dandannieldanok Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 Anyone think Paul Jewell is going back to Wigan? Not if Dave Whelan has any sense he won't.
lildave3 Posted 1 June 2009 Posted 1 June 2009 I like Wigan. Really hope that if he leaves they get someone good in and continue Bruce's good work.
Samilktray Posted 2 June 2009 Posted 2 June 2009 I like Wigan. Really hope that if he leaves they get someone good in and continue Bruce's good work. Same. Definetly 1 of the most likeable teams in the Prem.
Lovejoy Posted 2 June 2009 Posted 2 June 2009 Good at maintaining smaller clubs (Brums relegation aside). The question is, can he take what is at the moment a shocking squad to the next level, and can he handle what one assumes will be a fairly substantial transfer kitty. I think yes, always been the sort of manager who I think I'd like playing for.
TrickyTrev Posted 2 June 2009 Posted 2 June 2009 Shame he has about as much loyalty as a pair of socks though. The second he gets offered a job he's gone regardless of who it is... Well Wigan have lost their best players and are about to lose Valencia. They are going to go backwards.
Ultra Posted 2 June 2009 Posted 2 June 2009 Good at maintaining smaller clubs (Brums relegation aside). The question is, can he take what is at the moment a shocking squad to the next level, and can he handle what one assumes will be a fairly substantial transfer kitty. I think yes, always been the sort of manager who I think I'd like playing for. Word is that he would take Titus Bramble to Sunderland with him.. I suppose he's better than Anton Ferdinand...
Edmund Posted 3 June 2009 Posted 3 June 2009 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5361497,00.html Bruce confirmed as manager.
Finnegan Posted 3 June 2009 Posted 3 June 2009 Bit of a mercenary really ain't he? I can understand the want to seek improvement but it seems like it's only two minutes since he bailed on Brum for them.
Edmund Posted 3 June 2009 Posted 3 June 2009 I don't think he really owed anything to Wigan. The chairman has always backed him and said he wouldn't stand in his way if an offer came in for him. With reports suggesting Sunderland are about to have huge investment indicates that Bruce will have a bit of wedge to spend and not be in the position he was in at Wigan where he was selling his best stars. Roy Keane left the club in a state i.e. overpaid players etc. I think Bruce is the man to bring the club back down to earth and I reckon he will do a good job. I wonder what the odds that his first signing is Kapo.
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