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. Tony K : What is with the SMB business? In case you­ haven't already realised there are thousand upon­ thousands upon thousands of Very Very Very Happy­ Mackems up and down the country at present. So­ that's VVVHMBs to you from now on, Skunk! Unless­ of course you are living in the present and the M­ stands for Maggie? Ha! Ha! Yes we're all still­ laughing. The trouble with you lot is that you can­ dish it but can't take it. Grow up.

    From safcalsftm, on Tue 2 Jun 8:34AM

  2. Tony deep down in those places you Geordies don't­ like to talk about around the table or bar in the­ pub,you wish you had him instead of St.Shearer who­ let's face it is an unknown commodity.He didn't­ know how fast to blame the players and x-managers when­ your lot sank,does this suggest a lack of intestinal­ fortitude?would never doubt his courage and tenacity as­ a player,but as a manager . . the jury is still out.

    From jack torrance, on Tue 2 Jun 8:34AM

  3. What a bad move!!! The only thing he's good at is­ jumping ship!!! You'll be fighting relegation next­ season and he'll disappear as soon as the going­ gets tough. He's never shown any leadership to his­ players or loyalty to a club. He only gets these­ positions because of who he USED to be......bit like­ Hughes and Shearer. Why oh why don't they learn­ their trade in the lower divisions first and show how­ good (or bad) they really are with results!!!

    From Chris, on Tue 2 Jun 8:33AM

  4. Doesnt this guys wife and family get fed up of moving­ all over the country every time he jumps ship?

    From Brian B, on Tue 2 Jun 8:30AM

  5. Eloquently put as usual Cameron,but I have to­ disagree,I'd like to think our supporters are a bit­ more intelligent than that.I know your lot never liked­ Big Sam because of his SAFC links,but I think we're­ above that.Might be being niave,we'll see.I think­ he's a steady bloke and not easily flustered by the­ fans.Once he takes us up to mid table mediocrity and­ establishes us there I don't think the fans will­ give a @#$% if he turns out to be related to Abul Hamza

    From jack torrance, on Tue 2 Jun 8:30AM

  6. so they are appointing the 'biggest traitor in­ football' lol, how long for? till the next club­ come in for him

    From Brian B, on Tue 2 Jun 8:29AM

  7. I know steve bruce is a geordie but as a geordie­ myself who has supported sunderland for 20yrs i­ don't really see the problem? if we as sunderland­ fans want to become a force we will need a manager who­ will do the job, Keano was never my first choice but he­ did the job till his win to loss ratio got very close­ and our fan base has got to get bigger, i don't­ care if we have scottish, german or indian­ supporters.
    Bruce knows the rivalry in the northeast.­ our greatest manager Stokoe was a geordie and he did­ his best because he had to prove himself loyal.
    we­ should give bruce a chance.......... he has my­ backing!! Haway the lads

    From ae.degville, on Tue 2 Jun 8:22AM

  8. ok (tony k) the comment i made was out of line i take­ it back my appologies to the geordies.steve bruce is a­ bad move for sland by the way he wont do nowt

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Tue 2 Jun 8:14AM

  9. I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with long­ legs, blond hairs and blue stunning eyes. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From , on Tue 2 Jun 6:59AM

  10. I don't know why everyone's getting so worked­ up. He hasn't been given the job yet.

    From PATRICK, on Mon 1 Jun 11:41PM

  11. oh! ye of little faith

    From anthonyjohnramsey, on Mon 1 Jun 11:40PM

  12. Steve Bruce the least loyal manager available ? Why,­ have Newcastle taken Messiah Keegan back on like ? ­ lmao. Enjoy your trips to Blackpool, Doncaster and who­ could forget Preston North End as you fight for­ mid-table obscurity. Oh and dont think that Newcastle­ wont be going to another country to play their­ football, remember you have touch European competition­ in Wales with Cardiff and Swansea. Jesus Tony K, just­ accept the fact that all you will do from now on is­ look up at the only north east team in the premier­ league as you "tread water" with your mighty­ Alan Shearer. You muppet !

    From paul s, on Mon 1 Jun 10:51PM

  13. TonyK, what league are Newcastle in?­ shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    From Michael, on Mon 1 Jun 10:50PM

  14. Yeah Tony K, we wouldnt stoop to the Championship level­ ! LMAO Fecking barcode.

    From paul s, on Mon 1 Jun 10:45PM

  15. Tony K.
    Remember Toon legend King Kev jumped your ship­ twice and you let him come back to jump a third time,­ just before you finally sank.

    From beni, on Mon 1 Jun 10:08PM

  16. Steve Bruce has a good track record that cant be denied­ !! .But I'll judge him on how the team performs, ­ not because he happen's to be a geordie.One thing­ you can count on he'll stand for no nonsence and­ will expect 100% from his team because thats the way he­ played and manages. It could turn out to be a very­ shewed move.
    and when Sunderland finish in the top Ten­ or above You guys will be singing his praises even you­ Newcastle guys will be supporting Sunderland (Secretly­ of course)

    From Peter, on Mon 1 Jun 9:52PM

  17. Jack; it's a terrible move, simply on the grounds­ that he is a Geordie!
    When the going gets tough, which­ it will at some stage, he will have that thrown in his­ face and he will walk.
    Look at the hostility on these­ pages, and that's just for starters.
    Yes mate, i­ would gladly have had him at SJP; although that is­ NEVER gonna happen now - he will never be allowed to­ manage NUFC, not after being exposed to a dose of­ Monkwearmouth mediocrity. . . . pity.
    For the record, i­ hope it works out (for him), not just because he is a­ Geordie, but because i happen to think he's a­ genuinely nice guy!

    From cameron w, on Mon 1 Jun 8:12PM

  18. ibanez777vbk,
    bit hypocritical that me awld son;­ especially as i've just given yet another one of­ your comments on the NUFC pages yet another thumbs­ down!
    If you are gonna give it pal, be man enough to­ take it . . . . comprendez?

    From cameron w, on Mon 1 Jun 8:04PM

  19. I was hoping you turds would be relegated next season,­ but now i do not think that will happen, damn.

    From Colin H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:55PM

  20. well go and f uck off to the newcastle page tony k.stop­ spouting your s hite here,get yourself to the­ championship page with the rest of the geordie smack­ rats :)

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Mon 1 Jun 7:42PM
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