Sunderland have cooled talk of Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce taking charge.

Wearside woke to claims that a compensation package, amounting to anywhere between £3million and £5million, which would allow Bruce to leave current club, Wigan, had already been agreed.

Sunderland were not commenting publicly on the suggestions, but privately insisted they were nowhere near that stage, and their stance hardened as sources in the north-west prematurely claimed the Black Cats had been given permission to talk to the former Manchester United defender.

It is understood contact between the two clubs had been made, but that talks were not as advanced as had been suggested.

Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn said: "It goes without saying that the search for a new manager has started and we will take whatever time is necessary to make this important appointment.

"It is imperative that we find somebody who will raise the bar and introduce a whole new mentality to our dressing room."