Birmingham Say Bruce Can Finally Go

Birmingham say they have resolved their dispute with Steve Bruce, clearing the way for him to be officially confirmed as Wigan's new manager on Monday.

After a disagreement over image rights, the start of the former Manchester United player's tenure at Wigan has been delayed twice. Bruce was expected to sign a £2m a year contract on Wednesday but, instead, Wigan chief-executive Brenda Spencer said: "Unfortunately an issue has arisen between Birmingham and Steve and until that is resolved we can't announce him as our manager."

That issue, in which Birmingham were insisting their former boss should pay back £225,000 of his last image rights deal, was supposed to be resolved today. But this morning Wigan were forced to announce that caretaker manager Frank Barlow will be in charge for the club's game against Arsenal tomorrow, with negotiations over Bruce still ongoing.

However, following Birmingham's announcement this afternoon, it is thought that the 46-year-old former Manchester United player will now take charge on Monday.

Meanwhile, after saying he did not want the job of Ireland manager, Paul Jewell also ruled himself out of the running to replace Bruce at St Andrew's because of the uncertainty over the club's future. Birmingham expect to learn today whether Carson Yeung's proposed takeover will go ahead but Jewell said: "Someone called me last week and said 'would I be interested in Birmingham' and I think, the situation of the new owner of the club, or (who) doesn't own the club, it's a bit unstable for me. I'm not in the running for the Birmingham job."

It leaves the way clear for Scotland manager Alex McLeish to be appointed Blues boss. However the club have distanced themselves from such speculation, insisting caretaker coach Erik Black will oversee tomorrow's game against Portsmouth. "Nothing has been finalised and people who suggest a deal has been done and dusted could end up with egg on their face," said a source close to the club.