Ellis Short To Stay Means Ricky Sbragia To Go

Yet, perhaps the even better news to have emerged this week for Sunderland fans is that Ricky Sbragia is expected to stand down at the end of the season regardless of what happens on Survival Sunday (as the Sky marketing men have so cleverly dubbed it. Both words start with S you see, clever in a not really that clever kinda way).

It is difficult to see how Sbragia could possible hold on to his job. Despite providing an initial lift in the immediate aftermath of Roy Keane's departure, performances have been poor, results even worse.

Sunderland have the look and feel of a divided team which has been drifting towards the end of the season under a manager who always suspected he would be moving back to a coaching role in the summer. Their complacency could still be their Achilles Heel.

Results will have to go against them on Sunday, but at this stage of the season, on the last day of a long campaign when all sorts of weird and wonderful things can happen, it would be a foolish man/woman who believed they were safe.

Personally, I think certain people at the Stadium of Light believed they were safe weeks ago and that has been their biggest mistake. After beating Stoke City at the start of February, some even began to talk about mounting a late push for a European place.

They were not prepared for a relegation battle and have found it difficult to cope once it became clear they were being dragged back into one. Yes, missed chances in front of goal have cost them dear, but so too has some dreadful defending and so has their collective attitude.

That has happened on Sbragia's watch and I just cannot see how or why the Scot would be kept on as manager. Quinn warned him he had nine games to keep his job and after eight I think it's safe to say he hasn't.

Sbragia was probably a reluctant manager in the first place, but stepped up to fill the breach as a short term project. He thought he could do enough to keep them up in the Premier League, but he has always given the impression he enjoys coaching players, not leading them.

For what it's worth, I don't think Sunderland will go down. I can't see both Hull City and Newcastle United winning on Sunday given the form they have been in this year, but it is far too close for comfort for the Black Cats who have had plenty of chances to get themselves out of this mess.

Had Short been just another foreign investor looking to make a quick buck - this may still be his intention, of course, only over a longer period - he would have run back to Dallas faster than you could say pound sterling if the club were relegated.

Instead, he is willing to stay and commit to a project he clearly feels, with the help of Quinn, has considerable potential.

Their first big decision will be the appointment of a manager who gives the club a chance to realise its potential on the pitch, not one who is a nice guy trying his best to be Sam Allardyce.