Whelan:
"Steve is enthusiastic and just what we need.
"Whenever I speak with Sir Alex Ferguson - who I regard as 'The Master' - he always says two of the best young bosses around are Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes.
"They played under Fergie at Old Trafford, they always give 100 per cent and, if your head is screwed on like theirs is, you can't help but learn from the great man.
"Steve has the ability, the experience and the determination to take the club forward again. Steve wants a new challenge. He wants to come to Wigan and we can provide him with that."