Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce is ready to accept a move to Wigan Athletic - if he can take assistant Eric Black with him.

The Daily Mail says Black has found himself caught in the crossfire after Wigan's approach for his colleague was given the go- ahead yesterday during a three-hour meeting of his club's power-brokers.

A £3million compensation figure proved too much of a temptation for Birmingham to resist. It now remains for Bruce to agree terms, which should be a formality as he is expected to at least double his £16,000-a-week wage.

However, Bruce has thrown up an unwanted additional problem as he wants to take former Aberdeen striker Black with him to the JJB Stadium.

If Black decides to go - and it seems likely he wants to follow Bruce to Lancashire - academy coach Terry Westley would be the man charged with the responsibility of taking over first-team affairs.