Premier League - Sunderland set to confirm Bruce

Eurosport - Tue, 02 Jun 09:51:00 2009

Sunderland are expected to confirm Steve Bruce as their new manager on Tuesday afternoon after agreeing a compensation package for the Wigan boss.

2008-2009 Wigan Athletic Steve Bruce - 0

Bruce is set to replace Ricky Sbragia, who resigned on the final day of the season after narrowly keeping the club in the Premier League.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, who paid Birmingham three million pounds to release Bruce from his St Andrews contract in November 2007, has insisted Sunderland had to come up with a similiar remuneration.

That financial package has now been agreed and Sunderland officials are believed to be in Portugal - where Bruce is on holiday - to thrash out personal details after being given permission to speak to the former Manchester United defender.

Bruce has often been linked with the manager's job at Newcastle but a return to his native north-east with Sunderland would be equally welcome.

But the main attraction must be American businessman Ellis Short's recent takeover at the Stadium of Light.

Short is certain to give Bruce a substantial transfer warchest, which would differ vastly from his tenure at Wigan, where he has been forced to sell his best players and look for bargain buys.

Wilson Palacios was sold to Tottenham and Emile Heskey left for Aston Villa during the January transfer window, ruining Wigan's chances of a Europa League place.

With winger Antonio Valencia attracting attention from Manchester United and several other top clubs, Bruce would have almost certainly lost another star player before next season.

There has also been speculation Bruce has to slash the Wigan wage bill, which could have led to more players being shown the exit.

At Sunderland he will get the chance to build by buying in proven quality rather than having to rely on a scouting system which regularly took him to South America to recruit untested players.

PA Sport / Eurosport

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  1. Honest heslop, I was in the Strawberry and I overheard­ them talking about it in the bog. Freddy was trying to­ push a brown envelope into Brucies pocket and he was­ saying "well what if I get caught" and Freddy­ said, "dont worry, nobody will suspect a­ thing"

    From john.connolly01, on Wed 3 Jun 4:05PM

  2. Hahaha
    You both could be right

    From Steve G, on Wed 3 Jun 4:01PM

  3. john u obviously are hoping to get ur own back after­ agents ashley and wise succeeded 100% with there­ mission last season

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 3:46PM

  4. I think it's all a big conspirecy led by Freddy­ Shepherd. He's given geordie boy Bruce a dropsy to­ take the Sunderland job so they can plot your downfall.­ I've already heard that he will sell decent players­ like Richardson and Jones and bring in Bent and­ Bramble. The plan is that by Christmas you will be so­ far gone that it will be too late to do anything to­ save you and Bruce will leave with the Toon way top of­ the Championship and SJP bosting at the rafters.­ It's all true, honest.

    From john.connolly01, on Wed 3 Jun 3:44PM

  5. The masterplan last season was to bring 4­ under-performing players from a side in last position.­ Their calibre would lift Sunderland into the top half­ of the table.

    It's a bit like corporate mergers­ where you merge 2 companies who are performing like­ dinosaurs and then... out pops a gazelle.

    Hopefully,­ Bruce or whoever manages Sunderland will come up with a­ better masterplan this season.

    From Steve G, on Wed 3 Jun 3:31PM

  6. ur right tony its all just promises at the minute at­ look what happened to u and ashleys promises and we­ need at least 7 players of premiership class to have a­ hope of having a good season and lets not forget that­ bruce hasn't got the job yet it seems to be taking­ a long time to sort out he could be thinking of taking­ that really good job thats going up the road at sid­ james park

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 3:14PM

  7. hey Tony that wasn't a raw nerve I just touched­ with my verbal scalpel was it ?ha ha

    From jack torrance, on Wed 3 Jun 2:49PM

  8. and even a corner shop owner would be better than a­ dodgy sportswear manufacturer who promises alot and the­ only thing he gives u is a trip to the lower leagues­ and the distinct possibility of administration

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 2:46PM

  9. u know exactly what i mean as maybe we will have a top­ ten finish the season after escaping relegation by the­ skin of our teeth

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 2:43PM

  10. Tony honestly mate you'll start to enjoy your­ football again next season your team will score a few­ goals and win a few games,just gotta use a bit­ cognitive disonance and forget you're in the­ 'lower leagues'

    From jack torrance, on Wed 3 Jun 1:54PM

  11. tony wouldn't it be funny if we did a fulham as­ opposed to u who are in danger of doing a leeds

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 1:51PM

  12. Cameron-sorry mate case of mistaken identity (bit like­ thinking Shearer could be a manager ha ha) just­ whenever someone reffers to 'Jack' on here­ it's usually somthing derogatory regarding the­ 'Torrancemeister'.p.s good to hear your being­ educated in the best university in the country,I was to­ . . have it

    From jack torrance, on Wed 3 Jun 1:51PM

  13. at least we can watch chelsea man u arsenal liverpool­ etc and not sunny scunny­ plymouth,QPR,blackpool,peterbourgh the list goes on and­ on

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 1:46PM

  14. cameron instead of passing it next season why not call­ in a watch some premiership football

    From heslop448, on Wed 3 Jun 1:10PM

  15. Jack, i wasn't calling you the nutter man - i was­ referring to good old checkerboard, or were you winding­ me up!
    Heslop, i reckon you're spot on about the­ gates at SJP next season; unless by some miracle we­ actually start playing some decent football and run­ away with the Championship, we'll average about­ 40,000 - which is still phenomenal really. Do you know­ that i have to pass that Monkwearmouth Monstrosity 3­ times a week; well at least i have a 3 month break now­ that Uni's done for the Summer - oh the irony of it­ all!

    From cameron w, on Wed 3 Jun 1:00PM

  16. For the first time since Peter Reid, I have confidence­ in Bruce, Quinn and Ellis to make Sunderland great over­ the next years.

    PS. Assuming Bruce takes the role.

    From Steve G, on Wed 3 Jun 10:43AM

  17. Jack
    I guess Cameron is having a joke at your expense­ in order to force a response from you. You certainly­ obliged.

    Understandably the NUFC 'true' fans­ are upset. However, it is our duty to make them feel­ slightly better by having a little niggle at their­ expense. Can't take that away from them too.

    Like­ Cameron says, let's not let the facts and truth get­ in the way of good old banter.

    From Steve G, on Wed 3 Jun 10:40AM

  18. Cameron quit your jibber jabbering you crazy fool,I­ haven't put a single post on the 'toon fans­ demand influence' site

    From jack torrance, on Wed 3 Jun 9:05AM

  19. PPS has anyone seen the size of John Barnes's face­ recently? did he eat Mark Viduka?

    From jack torrance, on Wed 3 Jun 8:38AM

  20. p.s glad to be a certifiable "nutter" ha ha­ argh urgh argh

    From jack torrance, on Wed 3 Jun 8:24AM
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