Bruce bitter over Blues wrangle

New Wigan manager Steve Bruce was finally unveiled on Monday but admitted the delay between his departure from Birmingham and his arrival at the JJB Stadium "left a bitter taste in the mouth".

Bruce was due to be presented to the press last week but could not appear due to a hold-up involving the repayment of advance funds paid to Bruce by City. The issue has now been resolved, with the former England defender admitting he had repaid some of the cash, but he remains angry at the public nature of the dispute.

"It's become a bit of a laughing stock," he conceded on Sky Sports News. "But things in contracts should, I believe, remain private and it was unfortunate it was addressed in the media."

He added: "It left me in an embarrassing situation and one I'm very disappointed with.

"I always knew it would get resolved but it has left a bad taste in the mouth after six years of decent service to the football club. It was disappointing at the 11th hour to be facing this obstacle and I'm glad it's resolved."

Bruce is sure he can match the ambition of Latics owner Dave Whelan, who paid around £3million in compensation to Blues - a figure the new boss believes should have been enough to prevent the behind-the-scenes financial wrangling.

"I think familiarity breeds contempt," he told Sky Sports News. "Having been here six years and having certain promises taken away, like new contracts (it was disappointing).

"Mr Whelan came in and made it clear I was the one he wanted. Paul Jewell was obviously his first choice because he has worked with him before and I'll do my utmost to give it my best shot," said Bruce, who previously managed the club for seven weeks in 2001.

"With the chairman (Whelan) paying something like £3million compensation I would have thought that would be enough but obviously not.

"But I'm here, it's a new challenge and if I have the same success as I had at Birmingham then I'm sure Mr Whelan will be happy."