Bruce 'will not work for Ashley'

Geordie Bruce has been at the JJB Stadium since 2007

Steve Bruce does not want to become Newcastle United manager while owner Mike Ashley is at the club, according to Wigan chief Dave Whelan.

Bruce is widely regarded as a Newcastle fan and has previously been linked with the St James' Park hot-seat.

"There's no chance of Steve going to Newcastle while Ashley is involved, if you ask him he will say the same," Whelan told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"There's no doubt he'll leave us but it will be to join one of the big four."

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Whelan added: "There's only one job that Steve is really, really interested in and that's not too far away from the JJB Stadium.

"When Sir Alex Ferguson decides he's had enough at Old Trafford then I fear that Manchester United will come in for Steve.

"I don't think they'll get a better manager to replace Sir Alex than Steve Bruce."

Bruce, 48, took over from Chris Hutchings in November 2007 and led the Latics to 14th that season.

Wigan are currently seventh in this season's table and if they finish better than 10th it will their highest Premier League placing since joining the elite in 2005.

Whelan and Ashley have been involved in a dispute over business matters.

Whelan has accused Ashley, who owns the Sports Direct retail chain, of risking 12,000 jobs by trying to push JJB Sports - the company Whelan set up in the 1970s and sold in 2007 - into administration.