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By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan said on Monday 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 3.0 million pounds ($6.16 million) 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's 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.
"It's a big loss for Birmingham and a fantastic signing for Wigan.
"We've got a good team, we've now got a brilliant manager and with Steve Bruce Wigan will become again a fighting team."
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.
WIGAN RETURN
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.
"I was annoyed when he walked away, he'd been out of football for nine months when I gave him an opportunity - but I didn't give him a contract," he said.
"He came to Wigan for the last six weeks of the season, did a super job, then got an offer from Crystal Palace that he wanted to take.
"I was upset at losing him as I could see the ability he had and am delighted we've got him back."
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). (Editing by Justin Palmer)
