Fans Museum founder Michael Ganley welcomes Sunderland AFC takeover - and tips Kevin Phillips for the manager's job

"Our new manager could be at the club already - John O'Shea has got his badges," said Michael.

"But I am only going to say two words - Kevin Phillips.

"He would bring the fans back, put a bit of the passion back into the club.He has worked with some great managers and his experience of the Championship is fantastic.

"He is the perfect candidate for me."

Michael paid tribute to Ellis Short for his decision to write off more than £100million in club debt.

"It is a massive, massive gesture and I fully appreciate of the significance of it," he said.

"It gives somebody the opportunity to take the club on and progress it without all that debt."

The club may be heading for League One, but lifting the worry of administration was a huge boost for the club and its fans, said Michael.

"This is definitely a positive development," he said.

The club's accounts for 2016-17 are due to be submitted to Companies House on Monday, but the last published figures show the club had a net debt of £110.4million in 2016.

"Let's hope the new owners do understand what is needed and that we can rebuild the club over the next three or four years. I am pretty positive now, considering what a dreadful time we have had in the last few seasons," said Michael.

"Ellis has taken his foot off the gas, taken his eye off the ball, however you want to phrase it, but it is a fantastic gesture for him to write off that amount of debt.

"I am pretty chuffed, to be honest."