Bruce determined to get Black Cats purring again

NEW Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will not allow his Geordie roots to derail his efforts to bring success to Wearside.

The 48-year-old signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light yesterday and took up the challenge of establishing the club in the top half of the Premier League.

Corbridge-born Bruce has never made any secret of his Tyneside background, or the fact he is a Newcastle fan, but he is determined to follow in the footsteps of Bob Stokoe, a fellow Geordie who led the club to FA Cup final glory in 1973.

He said: “After reading a chapter of his book, he had a problem with the dressing room, nothing else.

“I hope I don’t have any problems with the dressing room, that’s for sure! I look forward to working with everybody concerned.

“Bob Stokoe was the local hero here – I have just had my photograph taken with his statue. He was the last one to bring a bit of success here, so let’s hope he can rub off on me.”

Bruce arrived on Wearside after first meeting chairman Niall Quinn in Dublin on Monday evening, and agreement was finally reached late yesterday afternoon.

Bruce was delighted to have secured what he believes is his big chance to prove himself at the highest level after learning his trade at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Crystal Palace, Birmingham and in two spells, Wigan, his latest employer.

He said: “I have worked for 10, 11 years in management for a chance and an opportunity at a club like this one. It is a huge football club with a great fan-base, great support.

“The training facilities, the stadium, it’s all there. It’s up to me now to put a team on the pitch which will take the club forward.”

Quinn, who thrashed out a compensation package believed to amount to less than £2 million with Wigan chairman Dave Whelan at the weekend, decided Bruce was the man to bring a new mentality to a club.

“Unless you are born up here in the north-east, you don’t really realise what it does mean to the vast majority of people up here,” Bruce pointed out. “It’s a working class area with huge traditions about the way football should be played.”

Meanwhile, Whelan will continue to pursue Swansea manager Roberto Martinez as he tries to find a replacement for Bruce.

“He is my number one choice but I have not got permission to talk to him – I need permission from the Swansea chairman (Huw Jenkins) before I can even say hello to Roberto,” said Whelan.

Jenkins admits the two parties are “miles apart” in their valuation of the 35-year-old.

“I told them what I valued Roberto at and they told me what they thought – we were miles apart to say the least.”

Martinez is a former Wigan player, having served six seasons there from 1995 to 2001, and Whelan hopes that may have some bearing in his negotiations.

Elsewhere, West Brom were yesterday forced once again to deny Celtic had made an approach for manager Tony Mowbray following reports he was in talks with his former club.

The Hoops refused to comment on the claims but a Baggies spokesman said: “We have not received any official approach from Celtic regarding Tony Mowbray.”