Former players should have a greater role at club, says Gray

MICHAEL Gray has called on the club to make better use of fellow former Sunderland players on their coaching staff.

The former left-back was put on the spot by Talksport when he was asked to respond to a message from an anonymous listener urging him to “get himself involved at Sunderland”.

Gray (pictured right) answered the question by saying the Black Cats were the one club he would leave the media to coach, but made a wider point that some of his former teammates were better placed to help lead Sunderland out of their plight.

“We’ve other ex-players who have been at that club, who love that club and get the situation at Sunderland, they know exactly what’s needed,” said Wearside-born Gray, who made 410 appearances between 1992 and 2004.

“Kevin Phillips has been working at Leicester, Derby (where he is now assistant manager) and other clubs, and he’s absolutely adored at Sunderland – I don’t see why we don’t go down that avenue.

“There’s a big overhaul needed at Sunderland, from top to bottom, including the squad, and I think we need someone like him.

“Kevin Ball is another one – those type of players who the supporters relate to are the route we have to go down now, because they know what it takes to be successful.”

Ball is a club ambassador and has been caretaker manager twice before – the last time the club went down in 2005-06, and between the sacking of 2013 Paolo Di Canio and the appointment of Gustavo Poyet. Current assistant manager Paul Bracewell had two spells as a Sunderland midfielder, and David Moyes’ predecessor Sam Allardyce played for the club in 1980-81. Under-23s coach Elliott Dickman is also a former player.

Pressed on whether he wanted to be part of the coaching staff, Gray said: “If there was ever a club I was going to work for, it would be Sunderland.

“I’m not manager material, I know that. But I would love to go in as a number two. I’d love to go behind the scenes without a shadow of doubt, I’d be up there in a blink.

“I’m sure I could help along the way. “I’m not putting myself out there but you asked the question. I think that’s the route you have got to go down – someone who knows the club.”