Doubts surround Ricky Sbragia's role at Sunderland

May 26 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

The Scot is not thought to be regarded as a front-runner in the Stadium of Light boardroom. despite having won five trophies in the last four seasons.

Current Premier League managers Phil Brown and Steve Bruce has also been mentioned – Wigan Athletic manager Bruce was the bookies’ early favourite last night – but both received hostile reactions on their most recent visits to the Stadium of Light.

Brown is a boyhood fan but was treated by disdain when Hull City were last on Wearside, whereas Bruce’s Newcastle United leanings have long made him a hate figure among Black Cats supporters.

Cissé’s departure will neither shock nor disappoint most Sunderland supporters. The Frenchman quickly established himself as a cult figure after joining on loan from Marseille, courtesy of his outlandish dress sense and his early-season flurry of goals, including home and away strikes against Newcastle United.

Hwoever, as the season went on, so his appetite appeared to wane and with it went the chances of Sunderland taking up their £10m option to make the deal permanent.

Cissé started the season as a lone striker, but once Kenwyne Jones recovered from a serious knee injury it became clear the much-vaunted pair were ill-suited to playing alongside one another.

After eight goals in 19 games for the club before Christmas he managed three in as many matches after it. By the end of the campaign he had been confined to occasional cameos from the bench as Sbragia switched to a 4-5- 1 formation.

A statement from the normally- effusive Quinn simply read: "We wish Djibril well and thank him for his contribution to the club this season."