Ricky Sbragia has been handed an 18 month contract to guide Sunderland to Premier League safety and beyond.

 

The Scot who previously held the youth team coach’s role at Sunderland before returning to the North East last November has been in charge as caretaker since the departure of Roy Keane and has overseen a period of reasonable results. Despite alleged interest in the role from the likes of Alan Curbishley, Gerard Houllier and Louis van Gaal to name but 3, Sbragia was the ‘unanimous choice’ of the Stadium of Light board to succeed the enigmatic Keane at the helm of the Black Cats.

Sbragia is delighted to be in charge at “a club as big as Sunderland” but does not underestimate his main challenge which must be to ensure retention of Premiership status for the North East’s third club. He has reportedly been given funds to spend in the January transfer window but with competition from moneybags such as Manchester City and Chelsea, the slim pickings may have to be well chosen to entice the required quality to satisfy the demands of the fans and the expectations of Niall Quinn.