Steve Bruce has been named new manager of Sunderland.

Bruce was unveiled by the Black Cats yesterday after compensation had been agreed with his former club, Wigan Athletic.

Bruce has made no secret of the fact he was a boyhood fan of Newcastle, Sunderland's neighbours and fiercest rivals, but he does not expect that to be a problem.

"I don't think so," he said. "I think they like one of their own from the north east.

"It's results on the pitch that matter. I hope I can win over the few doubters I have. The vast majority of what I've seen is positive."

Bruce believes being from the north east will give him an advantage.

"I'm proud to sit here and be Sunderland manager," he said.

"Unless you're born up here, you don't really realise what it means.

"It's a working class area. It was born in me and bred in me that I only got there with hard work. I wasn't blessed with any huge ability.

"I got there with a bit of hard graft and a bit of determination and I want my team to mirror that.

"I'm going to give everyone a chance. I've got the chance to work with the players for a good few weeks before the transfer deadline.

"Whatever happened in the past, I'm not really interested in. To start with I want to give every single one of them a chance. We have some good players here and I want to have a good look."