‘I had managerial offer but Cats job was too good to turn down’

Jamie McAllister was preparing to step into management for the first time.

A long and successful association with Bristol City and after a few months to rest and reflect, there was an exciting project right on his doorstep.

Overnight, all of that was upended.

"There'd been a few other things that had come up, I'd had a few interviews," McAllister explains.

"I was offered the Gloucester City job. I was offered that on the Thursday night. It was close to home, a good project, a chance to get into management.

"Then the manager (Lee Johnson) phoned me on Frid ay m o r n i n g : ‘ p a c k yo u r bags,we're going to Sunderland'. It was too good to turn down."

The attraction was twofold.

One was the heritage of the club with which he has some experience.

McAllister was captain of Exeter City in 2015 when the two sides played out a breathless 6-3 cup tie at the Stadium of Light.

Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick, but McAllister's side had been level at the break.

The history and legacy of Sunderland was impossible to ignore.

"The chance to come and work at a club of this size, the potential and the fanbase, it's too good to turn down," he said.

Jamie McAllister played against the Black Cats while captain at Exeter City.

"You walk in and the facilities are phenomenal, and you think of all the great players that have played here in the past.

"You just think about getting it back to where it should be, getting the fans back in and getting them singing, being part of a successful team."

Equally crucial was his bond with Johnson, friends from their playing days and

part of a tight-knit team in the dug-out at Bristol City.

The pair spent many hours over the summer weighing up what the future may hold, and it was a partnership that both were eager to rekindle.

"I've known the gaffer for a long time," McAllister explained.

"We've been friends for over 15 years, we played together at Hearts and Bristol

City.

"He brought me in at Bristol City [as coach] and so I know exactly how he works. We've got a really good relationship.

"We both sing off the same hymn sheet when it comes to philosophy and style.

"We've been playing a lot of golf and talking over the three or four months [since Johnson left Bristol City], and he had said that wherever he went he wanted to take me with him.

"I always had it in my mind that I wanted to work with him again because we've had that success in the past.

"We want to build something here and be a success here."

It has been stop-start for the duo since their arrival on Wearside, with some promising early signs hampered by a COVID-19 outbreak.

It's an ever-changing picture across the division but starting on Tuesday night in the Papa John's Trophy, both are hoping for a chance to finally build some momentum.

"It's a great club with massive potential and some really great people," McAllister said.

"We just want to get it going again."