Wigan Athletic have been forced to delay the appointment of Steve Bruce as their new manager due to an unresolved issue between him and current employers Birmingham City.
Wigan chief executive Brenda Spencer told a news conference that the club had been unable to sign a contract as planned with the Brucr.
“We thought we’d be announcing the new manager this afternoon,” she said. “It was going to be Steve Bruce.
“Unfortunately something’s come up and it’s an issue between Birmingham and Steve,” said Spencer, without giving details. “Until that is resolved, we can’t announce him as our manager.
“He hasn’t signed a contract as yet. That was supposed to be this morning.
“Our chairman is desperate that we have a manager in place and he’s hopeful that something will happen in the next 24 hours.
“We’ve been without a manager now for two weeks so we really want a manager in place, if possible, for the weekend.”
Bruce, who had eight games in charge of Wigan in 2001 before walking out to join Crystal Palace, had been unsettled at Birmingham with his long-term future uncertain due to a protracted takeover of the club.
