O’Neill poised as Bruce exits

MARTIN O’NEILL has been hotly tipped to take over at Sunderland after Steve Bruce was axed by the club last night.

Bruce has paid the price for the club’s poor start to the Premier League, with the club hovering just two points above the relegation zone.

He was on borrowed time after the weekend defeat to lowly Wigan and ultimately that proved too much for Sunderland chairman Ellis Short.