Chris could have taken easier option

IT’S just as well Chris Coleman likes a challenge – he’s certainly got one on his hands when he sits down in the Sunderland manager’s chair. After years of fighting relegation battles in the Premier League, the Black Cats finally succumbed last season. They looked a dispirited mob under David Moyes, who hardly behaved as though he believed they were good enough to stay up.

In came Simon Grayson, the Preston manager who knows the Championship like the back of his hand. No, there wasn’t cash to play with, but you would have backed him to at least make Sunderland competitive in the second tier.

He couldn’t and paid the price. However, much of the blame surely lies with the players who have underperformed and had their professionalism questioned.

Sunderland have become used to losing. In fact, they have become very good at it. Their home form is horrendous.

After the job he did with Wales, taking them to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, Coleman’s stock has risen. He could have waited, arguably, for a Premier League job or at least with a top-half Championship side.

The former Fulham boss has taken a massive gamble by lining up a move to a side bottom of the Championship.

On the other side of the coin, perhaps he feels Sunderland is a club with massive potential. If he could turn their fortunes around, the success-starved supporters would come back in their droves and the club could fight for a Premier League place.

Maybe now is a good time to come in. Coleman can evaluate the squad over the next month or so and then do some wheeling and dealing in the transfer window, even if it is more in the bargain bucket section that Sunderland seem to prefer at present.

At first, though, it will be about getting some results to move away from the relegation zone. He can worry about the rest later.