Prest on his summer move, Grayson insists he has no regrets

SIMON Grayson insists he has no regrets at leaving Preston in the summer to take on the huge challenge of turning Sunderland’s fortunes around.

With the Black Cats having made a terrible start to life in the Championship - winning only one of their first ten games - while his former club has a mirror-image record with only one defeat so far, Grayson could be forgiven for wishing he had stayed at Deepdale.

However, as he prepares to see his new team take on his old side this afternoon, he still believes he made the right decision.

Grayson said of Sunderland’s position in the bottom three: “I am not having sleepless nights but they are certainly restless because I care about this club and I want to put things right.

“The easy option was to stay at Preston and not take on this challenge - but if I had not come here I would have regretted not doing so. I don’t regret coming here and I am determined to leave this club in a better situation than I found it in - as I have done at all the other clubs I have been at.

“My resolve is there and I have a thick elephant skin which will take criticism and ride things out because I know things can change quickly.

“We need to get results and then it will change.”

Having left the club of his own volition to take the reins on Wearside, Grayson insists he has nothing to prove on his return to his former club.

He added: “I would like to swap places with them, that is for sure.

“I would like to swap places with a lot of teams, given the position we are in.

“However, I have no grievance against Preston because I left of my own accord. I certainly have nothing to prove to Preston.”