Steve Bruce favourite ahead of Roberto Mancini for SAFC job
Jun 1 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
AFTER a day of claim and counter-claim surrounding the candidacy of former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini, Steve Bruce was closing in on being announced as the new Sunderland manager.
The Wigan boss is edging closer to the job and although Sunderland are reluctant to cough up the hefty £3million compensation that the Latics are asking for their manager, club insiders and the Bruce camp are hopeful of an imminent announcement.
A deadline of last night was set for a decision to be made by Sunderland but that passed with no official word from the Black Cats, Wigan or Bruce himself.
Despite the Black Cats’ intransigence on the huge fee Wigan are asking for Bruce, the parties were edging closer to a decision and Sunderland could even confirm his appointment this afternoon.
Bruce is yet to agree personal terms with Sunderland but he is keen to return to the North East, and the Black Cats are likely to better his current wage.
Certainly, the club’s efforts remain focused on Bruce despite the intriguing diversion of Roberto Mancini supposedly throwing his hat in the ring yesterday afternoon.
The 44-year-old was touted as a contender for the job at the end of the week and it was widely reported that he told Italian television yesterday that he was interested in the post, even going as far as to claim Sunderland had offered him the role.
That was subsequently denied by his agent, who said there had been no interest and no contact from Wearside.
Most of the efforts are focused on coming to an agreement on compensation for Bruce. Chairman Niall
Quinn was in Ireland yesterday but he has been in regular contact with Dave Whelan, and the two spoke yesterday after the Wigan owner went public with the compensation figure that he is looking for.
Whelan said: “I paid Birmingham a compensation fee and I think it is only fair they buy his contract out. I paid Birmingham £3m and I am asking for the same amount back.
“There are a lot of managers on the market at the moment you can get for nothing. It depends whether Sunderland feel they want to pay £3m. If they want real, real quality managers Steve is up there.
