Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce admits he regrets turning down the job at Newcastle United.

He recalled: "The only genuine opportunity I had was when Sir Bobby left.

"But I'd just signed a new deal at Birmingham and I'd just signed five or six players that summer. I felt out of loyalty to Birmingham at the time that I couldn't go. It was a huge decision.

"When I turned it down my son rang me up and said, 'What are you doing, Dad, you daft p***k!'

"It was the biggest decision in football terms that I have ever had to make. But because of my history, I'd been accused of jumping ship before and because things were going well at Birmingham, I felt I couldn't leave.

"Have I ever regretted it? Yes, of course. It's long gone so I can talk about it now."