I didn’t want to sell Grant - Steve Bruce

Aug 28 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce says he did not want to sell Ipswich-bound Grant Leadbitter – but understands the midfielder’s desire to play.

The midfielder is on the verge of leaving the Black Cats in a £4m double deal which would also include right winger Carlos Edwards switching to Roy Keane’s struggling Ipswich.

And while the transfer of fringe man Edwards is no surprise, the sale of a player that Bruce tried to sign when he was manager of Wigan has raised a few eyebrows.

Although behind Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana in the pecking order, the 23-year-old homegrown midfielder is Bruce’s first reserve and just a fortnight ago the Black Cats boss said that he was not for sale.

But Bruce revealed that Leadbitter (above) is desperate to play regular first team football – and was ‘disappointed’ when the club spent big money on Cana and Cattermole over the summer – and decided to accept the bid for the player’s sake.

“I really like Grant Leadbitter. But there comes a time when he wants to play and be number one on the team sheet.

“I understand where he is coming from. I have given him the chance to go and play.

“If it doesn’t happen at Ipswich, I would be delighted to have him back. But he needs to go and play.

“I couldn’t offer him what he needed and he was disappointed I brought in Cattermole and Cana. He is Sunderland through and through.

“He beats himself up so badly when he doesn’t play. But in the end I have told him it is his call.”

It will be something of a blow to Bruce’s plans to lose Leadbitter, who was his first reserve behind Cana and Cattermole and looked an assured anchor man at Norwich on Monday.

Since being handed his first team bow by Mick McCarthy in September 2003, Leadbitter has made 123 appearances and scored 11 goals for Sunderland.