Bruce and his advisors were due on Wearside after holding talks with chairman Niall Quinn in Ireland over the last two days, with just the remaining details of the deal to be thrashed out.

The Black Cats are hopeful that agreement can be reached within hours to end a process which appears to have been lengthy, but which only really got under way in earnest on Monday when they agreed a compensation package with the 48-year-old's current club, Wigan.

It is understood Sunderland will pay the Latics less than the £3million for which chairman Dave Whelan was asking when he went public with his demands at the weekend.

Discussions have also taken place over the shape of Bruce's coaching team with trusted allies Erik Black and Nigel Spink tipped to join him at the Stadium of Light.

That would have implications for the staff put together by his former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane.

However, Ricky Sbragia has been promised a job for life at the club by Quinn after stepping in to plug the gap left by the Irishman when he resigned in December.

The chairman hinted in the wake of Sbragia's decision to stand down as manager after the final game of the season that the Scot's future role could be in the area of player recruitment.

That too will be one of Bruce's first concerns as he attempts to build a side capable of challenging for the Barclays Premier League's top 10 after a disappointing second campaign back in the top flight.

The Wearsiders survived by just two points and won only nine games despite investing almost £80million in their squad in the two years since they won promotion.

New owner Ellis Shirt has promised to bankroll another recruitment drive, but is insisting on value for money.

The club has already been linked with moves for Tottenham striker Darren Bent and Wigan's Titus Bramble, Antonio Valencia and Paul Scharner.