Sbragia Steps Down

Ricky Sbragia has resigned as Sunderland manager after the Black Cats managed to retain their Premier League status.

Chelsea beat Sunderland 3-2 at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the season but the failure of local rivals Newcastle United and South-Shields born Phil Brown’s Hull City, means that the Wearsiders will play their consecutive season in the top flight.

Sbragia took over from Roy Keane in December, and has dragged the Black Cats from the relegation position that they occupied, but now feels that he should make way for a more high-profile boss and chose not to take up the option of a second year in his contract.

"I got the opportunity to manage the club and kept them in the Premiership," he told Sky Sports.

"I'd liked to have done it in better style but I'm really pleased we stayed up.

"I had a chat with (chairman) Niall Quinn this week and feel I've come to the edge. To be truthful, I think they need a bigger name to carry this club on.

"I've done everything I came to do and now it's time to have some time on my own.

"I feel there's a foundation now and it's up to somebody else to take it on, and I'll be thoroughly enjoying seeing Sunderland move up that table next year."

Niall Quinn’s gratitude to him was evident, and he maintained that, though Ricky will be taking a break from football, he will be returning to the club in some role:

"We've done a deal to keep Ricky. He's got a job for life at this football club.

"He's been through five or six of the toughest months of his life and stood up to be counted when I needed him," Quinn added.

"We were in a bad way, we knew how tough it was going to be, and he maybe made it hard on himself by doing so well at the start and having everybody thinking we were going to Europe but he got us there.

"From the bottom of my heart, I can't thank him enough for what he's done for this football club."