Steve Bruce's switch to Wigan from Birmingham turns farcical

Dave Whelan had planned to have the former Manchester United skipper sign his four-year contract at a highprofile press conference at the JJB Stadium yesterday lunchtime.

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Instead, the Wigan chairman was for once lost for words and left chief executive Brenda Spencer to try to busk her way through the 'bizarre' scenario. "Something has come up, an issue between Birmingham and Steve," she said, flanked by two empty seats — one for Whelan and one for Bruce.

"I'm not at liberty to say what the situation is. As you can see, this is quite bizarre.' Bruce's friends believe he is prepared to call off his move on principle over the payment.

On a day approaching farce, Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan also claimed he had tried to attract former Italy boss Marcello Lippi as Bruce's replacement — and, not surprisingly, he failed.

Whelan had agreed a British record compensation fee for a manager in a bid to clear the way for Bruce to join Wigan in time for the game at Arsenal on Saturday.

But Birmingham are blocking the deal because they insist they are owed £225,000 in image rights paid in advance to Bruce. His basic annual salary of £850,000 was topped up by a £250,000 loyalty bonus last summer and a further £300,000 a year for image rights.

The last of these three payments runs from September 2007 to September 2008 but Birmingham paid Bruce in advance, which is why they believe he should pay back the £225,000 covering the period after his switch to Wigan.

Bruce claims that, because Birmingham have received £3m in compensation, he should not need to reimburse his former employers. However, it seems the St Andrew's board, who will not chase him for any of the loyalty bonus, are keen to recoup as much of the image rights money as possible.

Bruce, whose salary offer at Wigan is closer to £2m, was at home yesterday in Hale, Cheshire, and unable to elaborate, but Birmingham have 'previous' in these situations, like the bitter transfer of Robbie Savage to Blackburn. Birmingham claimed the Wales midfielder owed them around £7,000 — two days' wages from his £25,000-a-week pay — when he moved north.

Bruce was Birmingham manager at the time and now he finds himself in a similar dispute with a club whose chief executive, Karren Brady, is renowned as a tough operator. The dispute was sprung on Wigan on Tuesday night.

Spencer and Brady spent yesterday morning trying to settle the problem, even though Spencer emphasised that Wigan were helpless spectators.

Spencer said: "We have to sit tight and hope that it will be resolved, that Steve can work it out. He has agreed a contract but hasn't signed it as yet. Dave Whelan is obviously upset."

Wigan's official response was: "The club are confident the situation, which is beyond their control, will be resolved quickly and the club will be able to make an announcement in the near future."

Bruce's dilemma is that he cannot leave without solving the dispute or he would be open to legal action from Birmingham. So Wigan's shortlist of alternatives, headed by Joe Royle, cannot yet be spiked.

Sullivan said of Lippi: "We made an approach and he turned it down. This is not a stunt. He is available, and we are looking to bring in a manager of his calibre."

But Alex McLeish, yet to agree a deal to stay as Scotland manager, emerged as a candidate as Birmingham waited on tomorrow's decision from tycoon Carson Yeung on completing his takeover.

McLeish distanced himself from the job earlier this week but is now thought to be in the running.