SOCCER NEWS:STEVE BRUCE yesterday moved a significant step closer to taking charge at Sunderland when he spent several hours in talks about personal terms and transfer budgets with Niall Quinn.

Sunderland’s chairman received the go-ahead to speak to Bruce late on Sunday night when Dave Whelan, the Wigan Athletic owner, finally accepted the Wearside club’s offer of compensation for his manager. It is understood the sum is considerably less than the €3.5 million Whelan – who initially demanded €5.8 million – had asked for as recently as Sunday morning.

Bruce broke off from a holiday in Portugal and flew to Ireland where he met Quinn and other board members. With talks understood to be progressing smoothly, confirmation of his appointment is expected within the next 24 hours.

It is understood Bruce will earn more than the €2.6 million a year he commanded at the JJB Stadium and will be given a generous transfer budget.

The boyhood Newcastle fan, who went on to play centre-half for Manchester United, could have as much as €70 million to spend on players this summer as Sunderland’s new billionaire owner, Ellis Short, determines to transform them into a top-10 Premier League club.

“I think Steve always wanted to return to the northeast,” said Whelan. The only surprise is that the 48-year-old former Huddersfield, Crystal Palace and Birmingham manager is ending up on Wearside rather than Tyneside.

Before Alan Shearer’s short-term appointment at St James’ Park in April it was thought Wigan’s manager was being lined up to succeed Joe Kinnear at Newcastle this summer.

Swansea City’s highly-rated young Spanish manager, Roberto Martinez, a former Wigan player, remains the favourite to replace him but matters have been complicated by Celtic’s interest in him.

There are also suggestions that Whelan may move for Peterborough’s Darren Ferguson, and Paul Jewell, the former Wigan manager, is understood to be interested in the post.

• Guardian Service