No time for a Catt nap in bid to rebuild Wearmen
SUNDERLAND cannot afford to waste any time as they prepare for life in the Championship, according to club stalwart Lee Cattermole.
The battling midfielder has urged his team-mates to stand up and be counted as the Black Cats look to rebuild following their relegation from the Premier League.
Cattermole revealed he was excited by the challenge which lay ahead, although he warned it would take a lot of effort and commitment to get the club back where it belongs.
He said: “It has been a frustrating season, going right back to pre-season it has been an uphill battle.
“It is one we have not managed to come through and it is very disappointing.
“Now we need to have a look at the position we are in, the club as a whole, and try to learn and improve from this experience especially – and other seasons when we have managed to come through.
“That takes a lot of hard work, effort and commitment.
“One thing we have now is time but we cannot waste that.
“We need to bounce back quickly and look to improve the club as a whole.”
Sunderland may only have pride to play for but Cattermole believes the rebuilding job can begin now – starting with the players already at the club.
He added: “If we can get some sort of momentum with the squad - especially players who are going to be here next year, players under contract - I think it is important for them to show what they are all about and how much they want to be at the club.
“Then for the players who come in during pre-season, which is going to be a few, you would expect - or you would hope - they are coming into a healthy squad.
“So we have to quickly turn it around and try to make this into a big positive.”
The Black Cats have battled relegation for several seasons but a positive experience in the Championship could be just what they need.
Arch-rivals Newcastle United are experiencing the feel-good factor which can be generated by winning games in the second tier - and Cattermole argues it is something Sunderland could use to their advantage.
The former Boro schemer said: “The whole time I have been at the club, barring the first season, it has been a case of battling to keep our heads above the water.
“Next season might be a season when we are winning games and it might be great for the supporters, great for the players, great for the academy and the training ground.
“So it might be a chance to really change the mentality of the place.
“There is a lot of hard work to be done but we need people at the club who are willing to put those yards in and show the commitment it takes to play for this club.”
So what of the challenges which lie ahead? Cattermole admits while relegation has hit him hard there is no place for moping on the training ground.
He added: “I am intrigued, I really am.
“It has been a privilege to play my whole career in the Premier League and it will be a new challenge for me - but this is the situation we are in.
“We have to look to really build and kickstart a new era for the club with new energy.
“It is going to be interesting and exciting but that is if we move on quickly and we don’t just sit and suffer and feel sorry for ourselves.
“That is the thing which people expect you to do.
“Yeah you can do that but you do it in your own time - we don’t need that around the club.
“I am quite excited but there is a lot of work to be done.
“Time will tell if we are up for the challenge.”