SIMON’S READY TO ROCK
New Sunderland manager Grayson is relishing the battle ahead
NOT many football managers can claim to have had the Kaiser Chiefs as a support act.
However, new Sunderland boss Simon Grayson can.
The Leeds band backed the former Elland Road manager when he raised money for a prostate cancer charity at a gala dinner in their home city this year.
Not only did they turn up as surprise guests, they also belted out their hits to the delighted diners.
Now, Grayson is aiming to be a riotous success at the Stadium of Light – but unlike the Kaiser Chiefs, he will not predict it.
And that is because the Black Cats chief, 47, firmly believes that the Championship is one of the top 10 leagues in Europe – if not the top six.
But he is excited at the challenge he faces in trying to get Sunderland back into the Premier League after last season’s relegation.
He arrived at the Stadium of Light with an impressive mangerial CV, having won promotion at all his previous four clubs – Blackpool, Leeds, Huddersfield and Preston. And he aims to make it five out of five. Some might have seen the Sunderland job as a poisoned chalice, after six managers in the last four years.
But not Grayson, who said: “This job excites me and it has since it became available and I started to be linked with it. There’s obviously been problems here and there is not a lot of money to spend at the moment.
“But when you look at the training ground, the stadium and the level of support from the fans, this is a good job for me.”
David Moyes’ successor, though, has a good way of illustrating how difficult a division the Championship is.
Grayson added: “The Premier League isn’t the only strong division in this country.
“The Championship is definitely one of the best leagues in Europe, when you look at the attendances, the revenue that is generated and the famous clubs in this division.
“The majority of clubs in the Championship have been in the Premier League.
“I would put it in the top 10 leagues in Europe. In fact, it could easily be higher.
“It is far better than the top division in a lot of European countries.
“You’ve got the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A.
“But look at France – take out Monaco and PSG and is that league stronger than the Championship? You could say something similar about Holland if you removed Ajax and one or two others.
“And Portugal, too. The overall package of the Championship makes it so competitive, so demanding.
“It shows just how hard it is to get out of it through winning promotion.
“It’s unrelenting with 46 games, so it’s a weekend-midweek-weekend schedule most of the time.”
Despite being forced to search for bargains alongside chief executive Martin Bain in this transfer window, Grayson has still managed to make SIX signings so far.
He has signed winger Aiden McGeady, 31, from Everton for £250,000 and secured two defenders from Goodison Park on loan – the highly rated pair of Brendan Galloway, 21, and Ty Browning, 23.
The Black Cats boss has also recruited striker James Vaughan, 29, from Bury and goalkeeper Jason Steele, 26, from Blackburn – both for £500,000.
And another striker, Lewis Grabban, 29, has arrived from Bournemouth on loan to add to Grayson’s options up front.
A contract is also being discussed with on-trial Dutch goalkeeper Robin Ruiter, 30.
So there is a new-look Sunderland squad in place for what Grayson insists will be a promotion challenge – despite the high level of competition in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues.