Sam Allardyce: Sunderland must get summer spending right to end relegation worries

Sam Allardyce immediately stressed the importance of Sunderland's summer spending after the Black Cats sealed their Premier League survival.
Sunderland celebrateSunderland celebrate
Sunderland celebrate

Allardyce has already enjoyed one hugely successful transfer window during his seven months at the Stadium of Light after his January signings – including Lamine Kone and Jan Kirchhoff – have proved crucial to the club remaining in the Premier League.

But after Sunderland rubber-stamped their top flight status with victory over Everton last night, Allardyce insisted that the Black Cats need to get their recruitment right during the close season if they are to end the annual cycle of fighting the drop.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Allardyce said: “Only this year’s recruitment will put firefighting to one side.

“We have been in this position before, many times over the past three seasons, that is what has to happen this time around to stop (that cycle).

“It happens when we all sit round and start the discussions.

“How are we going to get where we want to go?”

Last night’s 3-0 win maintained Allardyce’s record of never being relegated from the Premier League and the 61-year-old believes it exceeded his escape acts at former clubs Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think this is better than when I rescued Blackburn,” he said.

“There have been some greater difficulties on and off the field that have challenged me more than Blackburn did.

“We have all managed to get over those and produced a very good team that has only lost one in 10.

“We have played some good football, the performances against Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton have been quite outstanding.

“Considering the difference in the league table, it didn’t look like we were that far away from them.”