[Archived] Bruce For Wigan

[Jimbo]

Things must really be going down the pan at Birmingham if Bruce wants away so much he's willing to flirt with relegation with a move to Wigan.

BBC Report

[philipl]

Looks like his assistant Eric Black is going with him leaving the youth team coach to run BIG CLUB.

Still pretty confident that Wigan will go down- Bruce is no stranger to taking clubs to Prem relegation. BIG CLUB are presumably going to have to sort out ownership and control before any decent manager will look at them.

[Flopsy]

he's done it once.

most of the feeling down here is of relief

[savage8]

Gone. End of an era (a horrible one) at Birmingham, I still think i'll take as much pleasure seeing Bruce close to tears when decisions go against Wigan now, or when they concede last minute goals.

[Roaming Rover]

Poor Wigan

[Cheshireblue]

How unlike Bruce to walk out on a club halfway through his contract.

Isn't it all about loyalty Steve, or is that only when Mr Savage wants to leave?

[philipl]

Whelan: Wigan the fighting club.

Let the yellow and red cards roll and will Rovers finally lose their dirty image to someone else?

Here's hoping for plenty of oop and under and at 'em at the Emirates on Saturday.

[Wiggy]

I heard Whelan being interviewed on 5Live a couple of hours ago, eulogizing Steve Bruce, and I thought he sounded a bit p@ssed. Anyway, turns out he's at his holiday place in Bardados ( I saw him at the airport a couple of Mondays back) and he did the whole deal from there. He's been so p@ssed he thinks £ 3 million is cheap for Brucey and David Gold is a gentleman to deal with!!!

[Flopsy]

the best bit was the quote "One of the best young managers in the Football League" Yes Whellen, maybe the Football League, but not the Premier League.

[frosty]

I'm sure Big Club will be okay in finding a new manager......Capello? Lippi? Mourinho?

[Cheeky Sidders]

I used to have a bit of a soft spot for Wigan, but I really want them to finish bottom now as I can't put into words how much I dislike Steve Bruce. But that doesn't mean I will now feel better about Big Club. I still want them to be relgated, but finish ahead of Wigan on goal difference. I'd also like to see Arsenal in the 3rd relegation spot but I reckon they might survive.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

£3 million for Bruce.....I bet Samba would even be a better manager and we only paid 400k for him. Yet again it proves that Samba is the bargain of the century! Woo!

[American Rover12]

I used to have a bit of a soft spot for Wigan, but I really want them to finish bottom now as I can't put into words how much I dislike Steve Bruce. But that doesn't mean I will now feel better about Big Club. I still want them to be relgated, but finish ahead of Wigan on goal difference. I'd also like to see Arsenal in the 3rd relegation spot but I reckon they might survive.

Hahaha. You reckon? Terrible. Oh goodness if only...what a day that would be.

[RevidgeBlue]

Very poor move for Bruce imo.

I know Birmingham aren't everyone's cup of tea on here but they certainly have enough potential to be at least a solid mid table Premiership outfit, whereas Wigan look destined for the wilderness from whence they came.

EDIT: Whoever had the sizeable punt on Bruce last week must be quids in. Probably Dave Whelan paying for his two weeks in Barbados.

[philipl]

I'm sure Big Club will be okay in finding a new manager......Capello? Lippi? Mourinho?

...and you thought you were joking.

[thenodrog]

Obviously not got his final pay off cheque cleared or banked yet.

[Blue blood]

I'm at a loss to see why Bruce is considered a good manager. Yes he has got Brum promoted twice but considering the resources at his disposal that was expected. He has developed very few players, doesn't seem that astute in his signings, had an indifferent record before managing Birmingham and got a decent squad relegated. I haven't seen anything in him that suggests he'll be able to stop Wigan's decline. The fact he is noted for jumping ship in an industry where loyalty is rarer than hen's teeth, is hardly reassuring, for Wigan.

I will grant that he can drive a hard bargain when selling players though, which will come in useful over the summer when Wigan are relegated.

The best thing about it is it should up the compensation that we'll get when Hughes finally leaves. If Bruce is worth 3 million, then we should be able to afford Kaka, Messi and Pirlo with Hughes' compensation. More realistically Rovers really should be looking for a substantial sum when Man U come calling.

Think the move reveals two clubs n real trouble. Wigan are pretty desparate if they're willing to pay 3 million for Bruce, and Bruce's leaving suggests all is not well at Birmingham.

[thenodrog]

I will grant that he can drive a hard bargain when selling players though, which will come in useful over the summer when Wigan are relegated.

He has good experience as a yo-yo club manager. Sells Prem players for big money after relegation before spending far less on a team capable of winning promotion. Much appeal for Dave Whelan at the moment I'd guess.

[laughatthedingles]

And some people wanted Whelen here! (no thanks if his choices of managers are anything to go by!)

Also, does this mean that Wigan are now a bigger club than us?

[Billy Castell]

What are the odds for the next Brum manager? No doubt Souness will be mentioned in passing, although I'm holding out for a long and frustrating search ending in Micky Adams being appointed. I can see the reasons behind Bruce moving, the Yeung takeover was dragging on as well as the cancellation of a new contract. That uncertainty is not good for anyone in employment. Wigan are probably a sideways step, but he may get a few more pounds in Janurary to buy players just about good enough to get by.

[EwoodGlory]

Next Birmingham Manager Odds

[Billy Castell]

Thanks. Some interesting outsiders there. Souness is 6/1 to 14/1, whilst even our Woy is 20/1. Even Trevor Francis is 14/1, and where has he been since 1995?

[Jordan]

Next Birmingham Manager Odds

Jasper Carrot at 10,000/1 seems a good bet.

[philipl]

Scrap over Black

Have we got any more Tiny Taylors et al for Steve Bruce to buy with his £15m?

[Darth]

Delayed due to "unforseen circumstances"