SOCCER NEWS:SAM ALLARDYCE has implored Sunderland to abandon their exhaustive worldwide, search for a new manager and name him as Roy Keane's successor.
Niall Quinn is due to convene a board meeting today with the intention of finalising a three-man shortlist and is in no hurry to appoint anyone before Saturday's home game against West Bromwich Albion, but Allardyce feels he offers the Sunderland chairman an ideal solution.
"There's been no official contact but I know what a great club it is," said Allardyce (54) who left St James' Park 11 months ago. "I've worked there twice before, once as a player and once as a coach under Peter Reid so I know what it needs and I feel I'm really ready to return with all guns blazing now. But we'll just have to wait and see."
Unfortunately for the one-time Sunderland centre half, the indications are that Allardyce does not currently rank among the leading contenders. Ellis Short, Sunderland's majority shareholder, is thought to favour a younger, possibly foreign manager with a trophy-studded track record.
Even so Allardyce, who turned the job down before Keane was appointed 28 months ago, remains a favourite with the bookmakers. "I'm bound to be linked with Sunderland at the moment," he said.
Other names on the bookies' shortlist include Co Adriaanse (61) the coach of Red Bull Salzburg who was formerly in charge of Ajax and Porto. He is among several Dutch managers connected with the vacancy as the feeling grows that the club's new international business development manager, Chris Woerts, a former Feyenoord chief executive, might influence matters. Both Steve Walton, Sunderland's incoming chief executive, and Peter Walker, the outgoing official, will also have a say.
Quinn has great confidence in Ricky Sbragia, Sunderland's first-team coach and caretaker manager, who was highly rated in his previous jobs at Manchester United and Bolton. Allardyce hired Sbragia at the Reebok.
Shay Given yesterday admitted that Newcastle United are embroiled in a fight to stay in the Premier League. "You have to take this very seriously," said the Republic of Ireland international. "There is no getting away from it, we're in a relegation battle. And that is going to be the case for a good part of the rest of the season unless we go on a good strong run. No club is too big to go down. That means we have to work hard, knuckle down and get away from the relegation zone."
"Things will become more intense if we are still in this position after Christmas," Given said.
Guardian Service
