Doubts surround Ricky Sbragia's role at Sunderland

May 26 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

AS Niall Quinn compiles the list from which he will select Sunderland’s new manager, the role of the previous occupant is still to be decided.

Chairman Quinn publicly promised Ricky Sbragia "a job for life" when announcing the Scot’s resignation in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s final game of the season. The inevitable decision not to make Djibril Cissé’s season-long loan permanent was confirmed yesterday, but as yet it is the only real loose end to be resolved. Sbragia’s fate is one of the most pressing because of its bearing on his replacement.

In talking about the parting of the ways, Quinn spoke vaguely of a job in "player recruitment" for Sbragia, but both men admitted they had yet to discuss the matter.

Sbragia only made the decision to quit on Saturday and Quinn sensibly did not want to distract from a final-day game at home to Chelsea which could have decided the club’s Premier League status. Sbragia, who made his name as a training-ground coach and is well respected as such, is understood to want to return to that rather than be put in charge of some revamped scouting network or placed in a director of football-style position.

Many leading bosses are reluctant to work with directors of football and, unless Sbragia’s future has been publicly resolved by then, any potential candidate is sure to want to know how much control Sbragia will have over the club’s future transfer policy.

Equally, others like to work with the same coaching staff as they move from job to job and would prefer not to have anyone foisted on them.

Either way, Quinn’s comments suggest Mick Brown’s position may be under threat. The former Manchester United assistant manager was brought to the club as a chief scout by Roy Keane but, despite an impressive cv, his finds have been under-whelming.

If Quinn’s comments are anything to go by, Brown should prepare for his authority to be diminished at best.

Gordon Strachan’s surprise resignation as Celtic manager yesterday will inevitably see the ex- Manchester United and Leeds United midfielder linked with the job for the second time in half a year.