Steve Bruce has urged Sunderland supporters to give Titus Bramble the benefit of the doubt. The centre-half, who spent today finalising his £1m switch from Wigan to Wearside, is a controversial figure in the north-east following an error-prone stint with Newcastle United and may struggle for acceptance by his new, sceptical public.
Bruce, having overseen the early stages of Bramble's rehabilitation at Wigan, is confident the 28-year-old can win them over. After all, the defender, whom Sunderland fans once delighted in dubbing 'Titus Shambles', was reborn in the north-west, twice winning player of the year awards.
"Look, I thought long and hard about signing Titus, long and hard," said Bruce today. "I knew it might be a difficult one for Sunderland fans – and a difficult one for him. But the great thing is that the lad has plenty of bottle – he wanted to come here. He wants to play for me and for Sunderland and I feel sure Sunderland fans will recognise that and give him a fair crack of the whip. At the end of the day Sunderland fans want the same as me and the same as Titus Bramble, which is success for the club."
Bramble spent today at Sunderland's pre-season training camp in the Algarve where, ominously, the previous evening Bruce had been subjected to isolated but nonetheless loud boos from individual Sunderland fans during his side's poor 1-1 friendly draw against Brighton. To make matters worse, he was seated next to Bramble at the time but all parties knew this was going to be a politically sensitive relocation.
Sunderland's manager trusts the jeers will turn to cheers when those supporters see Bramble's ability with both feet allied to pace and power. He can only hope the concentration lapses which have punctuated the former Ipswich defender's career will be few and far between.
"If Titus shows, as I think he will, that he can make us better then I don't think our supporters will have a problem accepting him," said Bruce. "Titus's problem has always been his concentration levels but we improved them out of sight at Wigan and he's big, strong, powerful with two good feet. The easiest thing would have been not to sign him and to avoid any hassle, but I think he's a player who can genuinely improve us."
Bramble is also relatively cheap, his fee – which will rise to £3m if certain criteria are fulfilled by him and Sunderland – perhaps reflecting a largely depressed domestic transfer market. "I've got a player I was quoted £5m for last summer at a fraction of the price," said Bruce. "But more importantly I've got a player who has been there, seen it and done it all in the Premier League over the last decade.
"Titus had a difficult start to his top-flight career. I think the move to Newcastle was too soon for him. It was too big a club at too tender an age and he's had his work cut out to shift the image of himself he created there."
Sunderland are also in negotiations with Colin Gordon, David James's representative, over the England goalkeeper's potential move to the Stadium of Light. Matters are complicated by rival interest from Celtic and Fulham and the fact that James wants a one-year contract and regular first-team place, whereas Bruce aims to sign short-term cover while his first choice, Craig Gordon, recovers from a broken arm.
Gordon's deputy, Marton Fulop, is wanted by Ipswich and expected to leave shortly, creating a vacancy. "David would be interested in a move to Sunderland," said Colin Gordon. "They are a big Premier League club with an excellent manager. I know Steve Bruce well and we are having on-going talks.
"We are hopeful something can be done but Sunderland already have Craig Gordon and, once he returns from injury in two or three months' time, that could complicate matters. And we are looking for at least a one‑year contract."