Cult hero eyes Sunderland role as former favourite blasts 'average' Black Cats

A Stadium of Light cult hero is keen on taking a first step into management with Sunderland.

Just under two months have passed since the Black Cats announced Michael Beale’s short reign had been brought to an end and confirmed Mike Dodds will be in interim charge until the end of the season.  Several names have been linked with the vacancy including for Sunderland defender Paul Heckingbottom, Reims manager Willl Still and Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl.

However, former Black Cats favourite Jermain Defoe has revealed he would been keen to take on the role after sampling life as a coach within the academy setup at Tottenham Hotspur.  Speaking at the launch of the Jermain Defoe Academy at East Durham College, he said: “If I got a phone call now and they said ‘Do you want to be Sunderland manager?’ When you’ve had these dreams (to go into managing) it’d be a dream because I understand it’s a massive club, it’s a Premier League club.”

More from the former Sunderland and England striker here.

Black Cats legend hits out at current form

Former Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini has described the current Black Cats side as ‘average’.

Mike Dodds’ side will head into Saturday’s home game with Bristol City looking to bounce back from Monday’s 5-1 home hammering at the hands of Blackburn Rovers and move back within touching distance of the top ten.  Reflecting on the performance and the current state of his old club, Gabbiadini delivered a damning verdict of how things lie at the Stadium of Light.

Speaking on BBC’s Total Sport North East he said: “Sunderland could beat a lot of the teams around them (in the league table) because they're probably in a similar position to us in many cases. They're average and get it right some days but get it wrong other days. The problem is since we sacked Tony Mowbray, we've got it wrong far too many times.”

More from Gabbiadini here.

Former Sunderland keeper announces retirement

Robbin Ruiter has confirmed he has brought an end to his playing career.

The Dutch goalkeeper made 21 appearances for Sunderland during a two-year stay at the Stadium of Light between 2017 and 2019 before returning to his home country to enjoy spells with PSV, Willem II and Cambuur.  After signing a short-term deal with Danish club Nordsjaelland late last year, Ruiter has been without a club for the last four months and has now brought down the curtain on his 15-year career.

On his Instagram page he posted: “I have crossed the button. Tough decision, but I've decided to get out of professional football. Still had several opportunities to continue my career, but the challenge I was looking for did not pass.”

More on Ruiter’s retirement here.