'I didn't agree with that': Peter Reid reveals the boardroom row that led to his Sunderland sacking

Reid was dismissed from his post in 2002 after a successful seven-and-a-half year stint in the hotseat, in which he guided Sunderland to the top seven of the Premier League and recruited a host of cult heroes.

But he has now revealed that his desire to see the funds spent on expanding the Stadium of Light’s capacity channeled into his playing budget ultimately led to his downfall.

With Sunderland perched on the periphery of European football, Reid was keen to be backed in the transfer market – but the club’s board at the time had other ideas.

That saw the Black Cats slip down the top flight table – before the Liverpudlian was sacked.

“We were seventh at the time, and in a board meeting the chairman floated the idea to put another 6,000 seats in the Stadium of Light,” said Reid, speaking to the Keys & Gray show.

“In the board meeting, as manager I said that I didn't agree with that approach. I thought that how much that should have cost should have been spent on players.

“It was a cost, maybe £6million to £10million, which back then I thought would have been better spent trying to get a better quality of player.

“I had a good side, but to get from seventh upwards you need top international players.

“The board decided to put the 6,000 seats in, and I had to get on with my job.

“I could not get the quality of player in that I felt could move the club forward, so about nine games into a season and with us fourth from bottom the chairman decided to remove me from my post.”

“I thought the 42,000 was adequate for Sunderland,” he continued.

“The best thing about football is the team on the pitch - that's what wins trophies.

“If you haven't got a quality side on the pitch then it's a struggle, and that should have been spent on quality players instead of the capacity of the stadium.”