Steve Bruce gets a shot at Wolves job

Steve Bruce will today get his chance to try to derail the Alan Curbishley bandwagon rolling towards Molineux.

The former Birmingham City boss, who came within a whisker of taking over at Molineux when the club opted for Dave Jones 11 years ago, will make his pitch for the post in talks with new owner Steve Morgan and chief executive Jez Moxey.

This followed yesterday's sessions with bookies' favourite Alan Curbishley, whose interview in London was later compromised by his son Michael using his Twitter account to suggest all had not gone well.

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He claimed his father had returned from the talks wanting the post but not confident about his prospects – although an embarrassed Curbishley Jnr swiftly deleted the tweets when they triggered a huge reaction among followers.

In contrast, Moxey was giving nothing away about the specifics of the hunt for Mick McCarthy's successor other than confirming more interviews were planned – although the club remains on course for an appointment in time for next week's Newcastle clash.

"Things are progressing," he said. "We are continuing to work to the timetable we indicated at the outset of this process and remain optimistic we will be able to fulfil those requirements.

"Our intention has always been to have a new manager installed in time to take charge of the team for the Newcastle match and that remains the case.

"But I stress – we want the right candidate, not the quick candidate."

Bruce and Neil Warnock, both fired by Premier League clubs this season, are believed to be the next in line, although Warnock is also featuring strongly in the vacancies up for grabs in his native Yorkshire, at Huddersfield and Leeds.

But he is seen as a potentially toxic figure for Wolves to present to supporters.

Bruce, whose best managerial moments have come at Birmingham and Wigan, is slightly more fan-friendly.

And Bruce's old St Andrew's midfielder Robbie Savage was quick to back his former boss.

"Curbishley doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who could put fire into the bellies of a demoralised team," said Savage.

"Warnock could do that but his credentials at this level have to be questioned. I'd go for Steve Bruce, my old Birmingham boss."

See also:

• Alan Curbishley out to end wilderness years with Wolves

• Curbishley in talks with Wolves owner Morgan

• Big Ron: It’s Gordon Strachan or Neil Warnock for me

• Who will replace Mick McCarthy at Molineux?