Jol Turns Down Birmingham Offer As Bruce Moves to Wigan

Birmingham City have failed in an attempt to bring in Martin Jol to replace Steve Bruce as manager but are confident they can appoint a long-term replacement despite the uncertainty over the club's proposed takeover.

Jol, sacked by Tottenham Hot spur last month, rejected Birmingham's overtures citing the need to take a break but Blues' co-owner David Sullivan believes that a manager of similar status is not beyond the club's reach.

"The usual suspects will be on everyone's lips but this could be a fresh start for Birmingham City," said Sullivan, the club's plc chairman. "We are looking at candidates at a certain level. It is a difficult one to try and get someone in who the dressing room will respect. Do you take a chance on an unproven coach at this level with a group of young players who will need guidance and will be looking for inspiration? Or do you go for a more experienced voice, someone respected in the world of football?

"For example, we did speak to Martin Jol over the weekend. Martin thanked us for our interest but said it was too early for him to consider coming back into football such a short time after leaving Spurs. That is the type of coach we are looking at; someone with a pedigree that will excite the supporters."

Bruce is expected to be formally unveiled at Wigan Athletic today after David Whelan, the chairman at the JJB Stadium, yesterday celebrated the arrival of "one of the best young managers in the land". Wigan have agreed to pay £3m in compensation for Bruce, believed to be among the highest fees ever agreed for a manager. The £3m clause was inserted in Bruce's contract after he signed an extended five-year deal in 2004.

Despite Birmingham's attempts to hold on Eric Black, the assistant manager will almost certainly join Bruce at Wigan, though he will take charge of Birmingham in a caretaker capacity until a replacement for Bruce has been appointed.

"We would like Eric Black to come as our assistant manager," said Whelan. "I am confident we will get him but I understand he has got to stay there for a week or a fortnight. But he will be coming to us."