Neil quits Sunderland to join Stoke

ALEX NEIL is set to be named as Stoke City’s new boss after sensationally quitting Sunderland to take charge at their Championship rivals.

The Black Cats insist they fought tooth and nail to hold on to the 41-year-old, but ultimately paid the price for a refusal to back the Scot in the transfer market and failing to tie him down on anything more secure than a rolling 12-month contract. Neil, who guided Sunderland back into the second tier through the League One playoffs in May, earns a hefty pay-rise on the back of an impressive six-month stint on Wearside.

He succeeds Michael O’Neil, who was sacked by Stoke this week after almost three years in charge — last Saturday’s home defeat by Sunderland proving to be the last game in charge for the Northern Irishman.

Neil came under strong consideration before O’Neil’s appointment in 2019, and Stoke’s renewed interest in the former Norwich and Preston boss emerged on Thursday night, with Sunderland admitting they were ‘contractually obliged’ to allow him to talk to their rivals due to a clause stipulated in his contract.

His scheduled pre-match press conference yesterday was put back then cancelled as he said an emotional goodbye to the squad. Sunderland must now decide whether to break the bank in a bid to lure ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche — who had been an early front runner to take over at the bet365 Stadium — to the Stadium of Light to help appease fans left angry at the way Neil has been allowed to walk out just three months after winning promotion. A Sunderland statement said: ‘We can confirm Alex Neil has entered into discussions with Stoke City regarding their current managerial vacancy.’