Big Sam tasked with the Sunderland rescue act

A strong start led to a poor mid-season, and Allardyce was sacked on 9th January.

Advocaat’s departure leaves the club at a crossroads once again. Whoever takes it has got a tough job on their hands. With six managers in four years, as well as two directors of football in Roberto De Fanti and Lee Congerton, the latter expected to step down now that Allardyce has been snared, Sunderland’s failings have had many fathers.

The former West Ham United manager’s instalment at the Stadium of Light was made official on Friday.

Reports also linked former Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri and Slavisa Jokanovic, who guided Watford to the Premier League last season, with the job.

And by then, he could have drafted in former Toon skipper Kevin Nolan, who is now a free agent having left the Hammers six weeks ago. They didn’t understand his genius and they certainly didn’t take to him in the way that we did.

He is now in charge of Stabaek, who are second in the Norwegian top-flight, and a clause in his contract means he would be free to talk to the Black Cats if they chose to approach him.

Allardyce spent most of last week on holiday in Spain, and has agreed to return to management despite the imminent release of a new autobiography. A few unfortunate, some ill-advised. Unfortunately, Okocha is 42 and seven years into a happy retirement, but which players could Sunderland snap up in the new era?

Allardyce faces a challenge already to lift the Black Cats out of the relegation zone after failing to win any of their opening eight games of the season under Advocaat.

Allardyce briefly managed Sunderland’s bitter rivals Newcastle, in the 2007-08 season, and Short has expressed his delight at the 60-year-old’s appointment.

There were two unsurprising managerial exits in the Premier League this week.

The manager who was replaced by Dick Advocaat’s been speaking about the club that let him go.

Once thing Sunderland would look forward to, is Sean Dyche’s implementation of a sturdy, hard working system that even if it doesn’t succeed, will always give 100%. I’m sure he would like that too, as his search for a big club continues. It’s also no coincidence that he is always linked to clubs with American owners (Aston Villa several times and now Sunderland), so it’s an easy/lazy link that’s usually without merit.

“He is the best coach in the history of the club and the best we can have”, Fabregas said.