Birmingham pondering Bruce offer

Bruce managed Wigan for seven weeks in 2001

Birmingham remained tight-lipped over Wigan's approach for manager Steve Bruce after a hastily convened board meeting on Friday.

Wigan want Bruce to succeed Chris Hutchings but Birmingham would have to grant the Latics permission to talk to the former Manchester United defender.

Hutchings was sacked at the start of November after 12 games in charge.

"If Birmingham give us permission we'll talk," Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told BBC Sport.

Interview: Wigan chairman Dave Whelan

Interview: Ex-Wigan boss Paul Jewell

"If they won't Steve is under contract so we'll have to abide by that."

Bruce, who had a brief spell in charge of Wigan in 2001, has been Birmingham manager for nearly six years but he could be out of a job in January if Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung's proposed takeover of City go through.

The 46-year-old held what were described as "positive talks" with Yeung a fortnight ago after the 3-2 home win against the Latics.

But uncertainty still remains over whether he has a long-term future at City once Yeung's expected takeover takes place, which may force him to look elsewhere.

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"Steve has worked with me before, he was with me at Wigan five or six years ago for two months and did a super job then," said Whelan.

"I know he's in a bit of a situation at Birmingham because of the takeover, they will not give him an answer or extend his contract, which is running out, so obviously he was a candidate for us."

Former boss Paul Jewell told the BBC he had rejected an "unbelievable" offer to return to the club and has since admitted his interest in the vacant Republic of Ireland job.

Jewell left Wigan in the summer, saying he needed a break from football.

I said when we stayed up that I'd taken Wigan as far as I could and I still believe that Former Wigan boss Paul Jewell

His assistant Hutchings stepped up to replace him but was fired with the team languishing at the foot of the table.

They are currently 19th, with just two league wins in 13 games.

"I was disappointed to see Chris lose his job," said Jewell.

"The chairman called me last Monday to see if I was interested but I said when we stayed up that I'd taken Wigan as far as I could and I still believe that.

"I took them from the third tier to the Premier League and a cup final and I'm proud of that but it was time for Wigan and me to move on."

Graeme Souness and Joe Royle are two names to have been strongly linked with the position, and Royle has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Leicester manager's post, citing "personal reasons".