Bruce knows all too well what the Wigan job is all about and when he was 'forced' to sell Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios back in January, the frustration was there to be seen on his face.
Now in charge of Sunderland, Bruce has done what no other team has really done when trying to purchase a player from the club, purposely unsettle the star through the media so that he would get his man in the end.
It is a dirty and low tactic from a man who joined his boyhood teams rivals in Sunderland back in June when he has always stated that he has 'black and white blood' running through his veins.
Many people will look to Dave Whelan and place the blame on his shoulders but if you look at the situation, Cattermole wanted to leave and his body language against St Mirren proved that. In a calm and slow tempo friendly, Cattermole was more hot headed than usual and was taken off, looking unhappy with the desision.
The price is good, but could have been better. Many fans will be extremely frustrated with what has happened but at the end of the day, football is a cruel game, at any point in the season.
Roberto Martinez will be disappointed but with the imminant arrival of Mohamed Diame and Antonio Amaya, Martinez will want a happy squad with no unsettled players.
Bruce and his public pursuit of Cattermole made the player unsettled. There was always going to be one way to solve this and now the player has gone.
The best thing to do is thank the player for his time at the club and move on. The season is less than 3 days away and it should be an interesting season.
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