Bruce's future has been shrouded in doubt in recent weeks after the Hong Kong businessman, who hopes to take full control of Blues by the end of the year, refused to rubber stamp the new contract he agreed with the current board of directors in May.

Wanderers tested the St Andrews hierarchy's resolve today by seeking permission to talk to Bruce as they stepped up their search for a replacement for Sammy Lee, who left the club by mutual consent yesterday.

And while 46-year-old Bruce revealed he "accepts" the board's decision, he admits he is desperate for talks to determine "which way we are going to go".

"It's flattering," he said. "My first reaction was obviously they've seen the decent job I've done and I'd like permission to speak to them. That hasn't been granted so I'll accept that.

"As for a couple of weeks ago I asked questions about my own contract here. I've made my feelings perfectly plain with what I'd like to do but until I have my meeting with the prospective new owners then I don't envisage anything will change.

"We have had little bits of dialogue but not a lot. I'm not one for emails, messages or faxes or whatever, I would like to meet the prospective new owners and have a conversation with them and then we all know which way we are going to go."

Bruce, who still has 20 months left on his current deal, joined Blues in controversial circumstances from Crystal Palace in 2001 after being put on 'gardening leave' by chairman Simon Jordan for requesting a move to St Andrews after just four months in charge at Selhurst Park.

But Bruce insists there will be no such controversies on this occasion and is hopeful a meeting can be arranged as soon as this weekend.

"I think out of respect for the job I've done here then I've got to be patient," Bruce told Sky Sports News.

"I have got a contract here, I'm not going to go into the realms of what I've done before. I've got a contract here.

"It hasn't been easy but until i can get that meeting fixed up - there's talk that might happen this weekend - we'll see what develops over the next 24-48 hours.

"It is difficult. I can understand the prospective new owners are in Hong Kong, they might be busy with there other stuff so I just have to be patient and wait for the opportunity to speak to them face to face."

Another candidate linked with the Bolton post is Real Sociedad boss Chris Coleman, but the Welshman refused to be drawn on speculation ahead of his side's weekend clash against Sporting Gijon.

Coleman, who only took over at Sociedad in the summer after being sacked by Fulham in April this year, was asked about Bolton's supposed interest at Thursday's press conference but declined answer the question.

"No, only Real, Gijon. England is another country," he said.

Wanderers coach Archie Knox has been handed responsibility for first-team affairs ahead of this Wanderers' daunting trip to Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

The Trotters find themselves 19th in the table after managing just one win from their opening nine games this season - a sequence of results which led to Lee's departure by mutual consent yesterday less than six months after replacing Sam Allardyce at the Reebok Stadium.