LONDON - Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan said today that he had agreed a deal to bring Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce to the JJB Stadium.
Whelan told Sky Sports News that he had agreed to pay Premier League rivals Birmingham City A3;3 million ($8.25m) in compensation to
secure the services of the former Manchester United defender, who had been in charge at St Andrews for almost six years.
Bruce replaces Chris Hutchings, who was sacked earlier this month after 13 games in charge.
Whelan said he became his first choice after Hutchings' predecessor Paul Jewell turned down to return to the job he left at the end of last season.
"I'm delighted we've got him, he is one of the best young managers in the land and will bring enthusiasm, knowledge and spirit to our team," Whelan said.
Whelan said he was confident that Bruce's assistant Eric Black would follow him to the north west but said he might stay at Birmingham for one or two weeks to help the club through as they sought a new manager.
Bruce had been unsettled at Birmingham with his future uncertain as the club is involved in a long-running takeover bid.
He previously had eight games in charge of Wigan in 2001 before walking out to join Crystal Palace but Whelan did not hold it against him.
Wigan have slipped to second-last in the Premier League, four places and three points behind Birmingham, on the back of seven straight defeats and Bruce's first game in charge is away to Arsenal on Saturday. Bruce's departure is the fifth Premier League managerial change this season following Hutchings, Martin Jol (Tottenham Hotspur), Sammy Lee (Bolton Wanderers) and Jose Mourinho (Chelsea).
- REUTERS
