Steve Bruce has hit back at Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan's claims of Wigan trying to 'rape and pillage' Blues of their backroom staff.Bruce was not the only man to depart St Andrews for the JJB Stadium last season. Assistant manager Eric Black also made the move north, along with goalkeeping coach Nigel Spink.
Wigan have also signed midfield trio Daniel de Ridder, Olivier Kapo and Wilson Palacios from Blues.
And in recent weeks, Birmingham's Academy fitness coach Will Royall has been reunited with Bruce, leading Sullivan into a furious outburst.
Wigan compensated Birmingham around £3million for Bruce and Black, but no fees have been forthcoming for Spinks and Royall - something which angered Sullivan and his fellow co-owner David Gold.
But Bruce has responded: "No disrespect to Will, but I don't think Mr Gold will know his name. The same with Nigel.
"They want £50,000 for Nigel but he was self-employed. They even say the reason Birmingham got relegated was because I nicked their staff.
"It disappoints me because it seems they're not going to let it go."
However Bruce would be happy to see the matter settled by the Premier League, adding to the Sunday Express: "If we decide to go to the Premier League, we'll clear ourselves.
"I haven't poached anyone at all and I've got proof of the whole thing.
"It's beyond them just to say, 'Oh, by the way, Steve's done a decent job'. I'm tired of all this."
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Birmingham are petty the chose to let Steve go and he kept us up (yeah i'm a latics fan) and you went down. You would think Birmingham would learn but they sold us Wilson Palacios (great player) Oliver Kapo and Daniel de Ridder! Now they are give us their staff you lot are Birmingham fans (why?) tell them what they're doing wrong. We took your players and made something of them. Wilson Palacios was not ever registered at Birmingham he came to Wigan and United wanted to sign him. Thats a big leap. malcolm1504 we willl not be going down and you will not be coming up. Understand? Good.
Dont worry lads Steve Bruce & co are renown fot there transfers 4 mil for Clinton Morrisson ( who) let A.J. go on a free did not think he would ammount to much, haha. At the end of the season we will be changing places with Wigan and Mr Bruce will be just another well paid in compensation jurneyman
I think last season was a complete farce it all started going wrong when that carson yeung came in with his take over bid {which was 1 big joke}.
It went on for far to long the board shud of not even entertained him.With all that is he or isn't he going to bye caused a lot of unrest in the club and that filterd down to the team which showed on the picth.
So let's put last season behind us and concentrate on this 1 with big eck at the healm i'm sure the gud times will be back at st andrews soon so come on get behind the boys
and chear them back to the prem. watch out villa here we come
You forgot Keith Bertschin reserve team coach !
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