London  – Sunderland will confirm Steve Bruce as their new manager on Wednesday after agreeing personal terms with the former Wigan Athletic boss.

After a compensation package was agreed with Wigan earlier in the week, the only potential obstacle was personal terms, but Bruce has accepted a three-year deal, believed to be worth 60,000 pounds (99,700 dollars) a week.

With assistant coach Eric Black, goalkeeping coach Nigel Spink and reserve-team coach Keith Bertschin, a former Sunderland player, all moving with Bruce, doubt has been cast on Ricky Sbragia’s future at the club.

Sbragia, who replaced Roy Keane as manager in December, stood down at the end of a season in which Sunderland only just avoided relegation, but had been expected to retain a position on the coaching staff.

Wigan are understood to have approached Swansea’s Roberto Martinez as a possible replacement, only to be put off by the amount of compensation Swansea are demanding.

Martinez has also been linked with the vacancy at Celtic, which could mean a return to Wigan for former boss Paul Jewell. (dpa)