All eyes will be on Sincil Bank tomorrow with Steve Bruce set to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday’s latest pre-season friendly.
The Owls head to Lincoln and Stocksbridge tomorrow with Bruce in the potentially difficult situation of having opened talks with Newcastle and let it be known he wants the St James’ Park job, but still being Wednesday boss as the two clubs are yet to reach an agreement on compensation for him and his backroom team.
The Owls play two friendlies tomorrow with both games seeing first team players involved, so Bruce could in theory be at either Stocksbridge or Lincoln. But the earlier game against League One opposition is more likely to host Bruce, barring any late developments.
In a further sign that it seemed to be business as usual at Hillsborough today Owls’ assistant boss Steve Agnew – who would join Bruce at Newcastle if he moves – was pictured playing cricket with some of the Wednesday squad on Friday afternoon in an instagram story posted by Lucas João.
Reports that the compensation is set at £5million are understood to be on the hefty side but it is more than the £1million that was originally quoted. Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri wants substantial compensation for the disruption a move to Newcastle will cause at Hillsborough.
United Managing Director Lee Charnley is seemingly trying to drive a hard bargain with the knowledge that anything spent in compensation could potentially come out of a transfer budget handed to the new boss. As of Friday afternoon, the two sides were still locked in talks.
Supporters dismayed at Bruce having emerged as number one target have voiced their anger on social media but it’s still odds on that he will be in charge by the start of the season – even if he now looks unlikely to join the squad flying out to China this weekend. Visa issues will need to be cleared before any new manager can work with the squad ahead of the Premier League’s Asia Trophy.
