These included the impending contracts of Henri Camara and Ryan Taylor, possible departures of Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki and just who the club is targetting in January.
Fans Forum December 2008: In Summary
These included the impending contracts of Henri Camara and Ryan Taylor, possible departures of Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki and just who the club is targetting in January.
In summary, without revealling too much, here is what the Latics manager had to say.
Emile Heskey
Steve commented that Emile has not expressed a desire to leave the club, and he will not be sold in January on the cheap.
Amr Zaki
The Egyptian is on loan with the Latics until the end of the season and he cannot be bought by another club until the end of the season.
It is unclear whether the Latics will be able to hold on to his services beyond the end of the season, but Steve Bruce will do the best he can to keep hold Zaki.
Contracts
Henri Camara is giving the manager things to think about and if he continues to play as well as he has been doing, he could well earn a contract extension.
Ryan Taylor on the other hand is currently in talks with the club.
Training Ground at Christopher Park
The council are presently trying to fleece the Latics of money by more than doubling the rent for the training ground and so further improvements will not be made.
Alternative plots of land are being looked at for the club to purchase out right to build a new trainnig ground.
Youth System
This is an area in which the club is worknig hard. With the strong catchment area of clubs falling locally it is hard ot attract quality players.
Cywka and Kuspisz
Bruce has been very impressed with the young Polish duo and commented that had we been in the Championship, they would have had their chance by now.
It is hard to blood young players in the Premiers League, but they chances are not too far away.
January funds
Contrary to recent press reports that the Latics have to sell before they can buy, Steve Bruce revelaed he has not held talks with the chairman at the present time and that Mr Whelan has never said "no" to a request from the manager for funds.
Transfer targets
Unfortunately the club is not able to sign young English talent as this would be too expensive. Thus we must look further away from the English shores for future Wiganers.
Benitez of Ecuador was a target before he broke his leg, and that will be monitored going forwards.
There is also an ongoing deal for an unamed South American that Bruce said would be a big coup for the club.
Lee Cattermole
Steve Bruce has been hugely impressed by Lee Cattermole since he joined the club and he can see the 20 year old going to have a big future in the game and has tipped the midfielder to be a one day captain of the club.
Emmerson Boyce
Singled out for praise by the manager as a 'steady eddie', Boyce is the quiet man of the team who puts in solid performances week in week out.
Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia
Their recent form has suffered and Bruce put this down to the crazy flights and international journies undertaken for international friendlies.
In particular with Palacios, he feels he is presently in a trough, and Bruce is confident the pair will hit form over the Christmas period.
Future for the Latics
Steve Bruce commented that he would like the club to win some silver ware with the cup competitions a particular target.
There is also the hope that the Latics can break into the top half of the table and possibly even go further with a forray into Europe in the not too distant future.
The event was well handled by Juliette Ferrington from BBC Radio Five Live and Steve Bruce himself earned great praise from the Latics faithful for the way he answered the questions.
All that reamains to be said is a thank you to the manager for attending the event and taking the tiem to address the fans, and the club for providing the event and the fantastic facilities of the South Stand bar.
Here is to the next Fans Forum event.
What do you think? Please let us know your opinion on the messageboard - click here.
Emile Heskey
Steve commented that Emile has not expressed a desire to leave the club, and he will not be sold in January on the cheap.
Amr Zaki
The Egyptian is on loan with the Latics until the end of the season and he cannot be bought by another club until the end of the season.
It is unclear whether the Latics will be able to hold on to his services beyond the end of the season, but Steve Bruce will do the best he can to keep hold Zaki.
Contracts
Henri Camara is giving the manager things to think about and if he continues to play as well as he has been doing, he could well earn a contract extension.
Ryan Taylor on the other hand is currently in talks with the club.
Training Ground at Christopher Park
The council are presently trying to fleece the Latics of money by more than doubling the rent for the training ground and so further improvements will not be made.
Alternative plots of land are being looked at for the club to purchase out right to build a new trainnig ground.
Youth System
This is an area in which the club is worknig hard. With the strong catchment area of clubs falling locally it is hard ot attract quality players.
Cywka and Kuspisz
Bruce has been very impressed with the young Polish duo and commented that had we been in the Championship, they would have had their chance by now.
It is hard to blood young players in the Premiers League, but they chances are not too far away.
January funds
Contrary to recent press reports that the Latics have to sell before they can buy, Steve Bruce revelaed he has not held talks with the chairman at the present time and that Mr Whelan has never said "no" to a request from the manager for funds.
Transfer targets
Unfortunately the club is not able to sign young English talent as this would be too expensive. Thus we must look further away from the English shores for future Wiganers.
Benitez of Ecuador was a target before he broke his leg, and that will be monitored going forwards.
There is also an ongoing deal for an unamed South American that Bruce said would be a big coup for the club.
Lee Cattermole
Steve Bruce has been hugely impressed by Lee Cattermole since he joined the club and he can see the 20 year old going to have a big future in the game and has tipped the midfielder to be a one day captain of the club.
Emmerson Boyce
Singled out for praise by the manager as a 'steady eddie', Boyce is the quiet man of the team who puts in solid performances week in week out.
Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia
Their recent form has suffered and Bruce put this down to the crazy flights and international journies undertaken for international friendlies.
In particular with Palacios, he feels he is presently in a trough, and Bruce is confident the pair will hit form over the Christmas period.
Future for the Latics
Steve Bruce commented that he would like the club to win some silver ware with the cup competitions a particular target.
There is also the hope that the Latics can break into the top half of the table and possibly even go further with a forray into Europe in the not too distant future.
The event was well handled by Juliette Ferrington from BBC Radio Five Live and Steve Bruce himself earned great praise from the Latics faithful for the way he answered the questions.
All that reamains to be said is a thank you to the manager for attending the event and taking the tiem to address the fans, and the club for providing the event and the fantastic facilities of the South Stand bar.
Here is to the next Fans Forum event.
What do you think? Please let us know your opinion on the messageboard - click here.