Angers Black Cats boss

I want him to be part of the squad for a successful Championship campaign.’’

Ex-Sunderland, Preston and Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane has compared straight-talking Grayson to Peter Reid, who twice led the Black Cats to promotion in the ’90s and secured successive seventh-place Premier League finishes in 2000 and 2001.

Grayson joked: “I think I’m better looking than him – I’ve got smaller ears!

“But when you look at Peter, he’s a down-to-earth bloke and he commanded the best from his players.

“All of those characteristics are ones I take forward as well, so Kevin can do the comparisons but if I’m successful like Peter, I’ll be more than happy.’’

Grayson has warned Sunderland’s under-achievers he won’t tolerate wounded pride – but no player will go on the cheap. He said: “When teams get relegated from the Premier League, all players have egos and sometimes think they deserve to be somewhere else.

“If players come to me and don’t fancy being part of what we’re looking to do, I’ll allow them to leave – but they’ll only leave at the right price.’’

Recruitment is crucial for Grayson, who is without a senior striker after the departures of Jermain Defoe, Fabio Borini and Victor Anichebe.

And he is likely to try to prise Jordan Hugill away from Preston. The Middlesbrough-born striker, 25, hit 12 league goals last season and signed a new three-year deal at Deepdale last September.

Everton’s former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady is also in Grayson’s sights after his impressive loan to Preston last term, when he scored eight goals. The Republic of Ireland international, 31, only has a year left on his contract.