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

Comment 64 - 83 of 123

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  1. Must be a mags fan who wrote about 5 million­ pounds.

    You lot had millions and wasted it on ceap­ players,@#$% managers,@#$% stadium,even @#$% toilets­ too flush it down

    From reddevil155, on Tue 2 Jun 9:12PM

  2. Tony K
    Sunderland have been a yoyo side, no doubt about­ it. However, what I REALLY LOVE is that­ Sunderland's results against Newcastle kept us up­ and got you relegated.

    From Steve G, on Tue 2 Jun 8:51PM

  3. Oh Tony K, you must only be saying that about me­ because I'm the one who's got to you the most. ­ Mate, the next thing you write should be a suicide note­ ! lol Barcode skunk.

    From paul s, on Tue 2 Jun 8:32PM

  4. Ellis Short will spend lots to protect his investment­ in Sunderland AFC. He cannot afford for Sunderland to­ go down along with the value of his investment.

    I­ expect Newcastle U FC will be worth 50-100 million less­ because they are playing in the Championship unless the­ parachute payments are pretty chunky and that they can­ get promoted first time.

    From Steve G, on Tue 2 Jun 8:31PM

  5. Bruce seems to have top manager potential.

    Can't­ wait to see what he does with our beloved Sunderland. I­ am confident we are going to have a few rosy years­ ahead IF HE CAN STAY LOYAL.

    From Steve G, on Tue 2 Jun 8:27PM

  6. Yes TonyK, but it is so much fun repeating it to you­ barcodes. Once again, what league are Newcastle United­ in?

    From Michael, on Tue 2 Jun 8:00PM

  7. Well Tony K. Easy to spend other peoples money­ isn't it? Our MP's do it very well too. What do­ you class as a lot of money? Are you a banker on a mega­ bonus structure? Football fans of all clubs are­ deluded. why would you sink millions upon millions into­ a footabll team for no return other than abuse from­ fickle fans when it all goes Pete Tong.

    From Colin, on Tue 2 Jun 7:35PM

  8. Tony K, you're unmasked - you're Terry­ McDermott aren't you. Explains all your gibbering­ that's for sure. Comment 97 from Patrick Jewell­ was spot on. I sense panic from the Dark Side:­ we're on our way (as the song goes) and The Skunks­ are staring at oblivion: Shearer is looking for a­ diplomatic way of returning to MotD and Agent Ashley is­ off to Poundland to flog the club!!

    From safcalsftm, on Tue 2 Jun 7:04PM

  9. Tony K, for flips sake take a chill pill. You're­ making me feel sorry for you and your club. Anyway­ it's the cricket season, time to relax a little and­ watch a sport that doesn't really matter.

    From PATRICK, on Tue 2 Jun 6:53PM

  10. GREAT TO GET BRUCE IN WHO WILL HAVE PLENT OF MONEY TO­ SPEND.PREMIERSHIP CLUBS NEED GOOD MANAGERS SO WHO WILL­ NEWCASTLE APPOINT THIS YEAR.SORRY THEY ARE NOT A­ PREMIERSHIP CLUB SO MAYBE SOMEONE LIKE MR BEAN OR EVEN­ MICKEY MOUSE

    From Tony, on Tue 2 Jun 6:13PM

  11. This move for Bruce would be a step back in his career­ and also prove what a dis-loyal person he is.­ Birmingham lost him in the same way and Sunderland fans­ should be in disbelief that such a person will be­ pulling their strings next season. Bruce, show us­ you're a decent fellow and stick by Wigan, their­ chairman and fans trusted you with their club and you­ repay them like this. I'm a Man City fan and wish­ Wigan luck in their search for a replacement, Ferguson­ Jnr would not be a bad signing or even Paul Ince, a­ good manager in the making as Blackburn would have­ found out if they had given the guy a fraction of a­ chance to prove himself. Whinge over and looking­ forward to next season, well done Hull!

    From Jon, on Tue 2 Jun 5:19PM

  12. I would have preferred the JGG (the mighty one) to have­ shown the same imagination as he did with appointing­ Keane. I still think Sven or Mancini would've have­ been good choices as they would've have attracted­ the type of players that don't normally come to­ SAFC. If it has to be Bruce then so be it. Jack and­ ae.degville (comment 61?) are spot on - Bruce will just­ be professional and get on with job to the best of his­ ability. he hasn't been appointed yet but he'll­ get my support if he does.

    From PATRICK, on Tue 2 Jun 5:11PM

  13. Any accusations of jumping ship are harsh IMO. Bruce­ has always done a better than average job, and the way­ Birmingham got rid of him, is it any wonder he puts­ himself first? Football is a ruthless game. ALSO, he­ has a great nack for scouting players who all the­ bigger clubs seem more than happy to stump up big cash­ for. Not bad, i think sunderland should be well happy.

    From ghettovest, on Tue 2 Jun 4:56PM

  14. Well deserved Bruce. He's proving how good he is­ with average players, now to see how good he is when he­ can splash the cash.

    From ethan.cooper, on Tue 2 Jun 4:56PM

  15. Oh My God, Steve Bruce's first signings, Kevin­ Skillban and Emile Heskey!!!!!!

    From TTIOT, on Tue 2 Jun 4:34PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    KAKA = MADRID
    AS
    Zidane = MADRID

    Next­ era of Real Madrid is coming.....

    From gabbatiz8, on Tue 2 Jun 4:13PM

  17. With regards to Steve Bruce jumping ship.

    Perhaps­ Sunderland Supporters should remember they keep on­ jumping leagues.

    One thing for sure i hope Newcastle­ keep on jumping leagues downwards.

    Shearer and Keegan­ a Titanic Team we will not go down the Titanic did and­ that never came back

    From reddevil155, on Tue 2 Jun 4:13PM

  18. You can have Bruce. Enjoy. With reference to leagues­ etc, we'll have a lot more of a laugh next season­ when we swap leagues and Bruce goes on to his next gold­ mine.

    From Phil, on Tue 2 Jun 4:10PM

  19. would you stay at wigan ... sell players...cut in the­ pay..... wash your own kit ,,,no thanks ,,, ye did­ right my son

    From tom, on Tue 2 Jun 3:49PM

  20. Comment 6 from "1982" as I seem to remember,­ Wigan were struggling when Bruce came in and Birmingham­ were mid table, Wigan survived and Birmingham went­ down... Bruce is an ok manager but like button who is­ doing well with brawn gp this season u cant comment­ unless someone has had a real go with a "big"­ club...
    I do think that Moyes and Bruce are the two­ better "young" home managers. Infact what­ Moyes has achieved at Goodison is commendable

    From mudassir.iqbal, on Tue 2 Jun 3:43PM
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