STEVE Bruce looks set to become the new Sunderland manager after Wigan accepted a compensation package offered by their Premier League rivals.

STEVE Bruce looks set to become the new Sunderland manager after Wigan accepted a compensation package offered by their Premier League rivals.

The Latics boss, who was born just a few miles outside Newcastle, was identified as the number one target by chairman Niall Quinn after caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia stepped down at the end of the season.

The compensation fee agreed between the two clubs is thought to be less than the �3 million Wigan paid to release Bruce from his contract with Birmingham in November 2007.