Posted on Sunday, 31st May 2009 by admin
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan expects to find out on Sunday evening whether he will lose boss Steve Bruce to Premier League rivals Sunderland.
Bruce, 48, was given permission to speak to the Black Cats about their vacant managerial post last week.
Whelan told BBC Sport: “Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn told me that he understands he can’t mess about and by Sunday evening we’ll have a decision.
“I’ve asked for £3m in compensation, but I don’t want to lose Steve.”
Bruce looks to be the front-runner for the post, despite reports former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini had been offered the role.
Mancini was quoted as saying he was “honoured to have had an offer from Sunderland” but his agent Giorgio De Giorgis denied there had been any contact with the Wearside club.
He said: “Mancini is aware of the reports but we have not received an offer, nor have we been in touch with anyone from Sunderland.
“There has been interest from English teams but Sunderland is not one of them. However, no official offers have been made.”
Sunderland are seeking a third boss in three years after Ricky Sbragia, who guided them to Premier League safety, resigned immediately afterwards.
Bruce took over at Wigan in November 2007 after Whelan paid Birmingham £3m to secure his services and he guided them to 11th in the Premier League this season.
Whelan added: “Talks are in progression and I’ve asked for a compensation fee because I think it’s only fair that they buy out his contract.
“I paid Birmingham £3m so I’m asking for the same amount back.
“There’s a lot of managers who you can get for free and it depends whether they feel they want to pay £3m.
“But if they want a real quality manager, Steve is up there among the best.
“I said to Steve and Niall, ‘please do a deal quickly if you’re going to do one because Wigan will have no manager and I can’t let that go on for too long’.
“Niall is a straight and honest guy and immediately they come to a decision they will tell me and hopefully they’re going to do it on Sunday.”
Whelan insisted he has nobody specific in mind as a replacement should Bruce agree to the switch.
“Its not something I do,” he said. “I just wait to see what the outcome is and then face reality.
“If we’ve got to get a new manager, we’ll advertise and we’ll have 20 applications in and there will be some good lads among them.”
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