Lack of top-flight British managers angers Black Cats boss
SIMON GRAYSON believes ambitious British bosses only get the chance to manage in the Premier League if they win promotion.
And that is the aim of the new Sunderland boss, who has never managed in the top flight, after taking charge at a club still coming to terms with relegation.
The Black Cats have lured former Leeds boss Grayson from fellow Championship side Preston North End on a three-year deal.
But Grayson reckons it is wrong that British coaches have to climb the managerial ladder the hard way.
He said: “It’s a sad indictment on football that the only way British managers get to manage in the Premier League is by taking a team up from the Championship.
“I don’t see too many Championship managers being poached to go to the Premier League – I’d like to think that managers should be given a better opportunity.
“Two of the best managers in the Premier League are British – Eddie Howe at Bournemouth and Sean Dyche at Burnley – but they’ve only had the opportunity because they’ve been able to take teams up.
“I think ever y manager in the Championship is realistic and if you’re going to achieve Premier League status as a manager, you have to do it by taking a team up – and that’s a big ambition of mine.’’
One of Grayson’s first tasks was to rubber-stamp a new one-year deal for Sunderland skipper John O’Shea, whose contract was up this summer.
Grayson sees the Republic of Ireland defender, 36, as an influential figure who can help mentor and develop the youngsters now vital to the cashstrapped Wearsiders.
“I’m delighted John is staying,’’ said Grayson.
“He’s still an international and can play a key part with his experience.
“We’re going to integrate some of the younger players in and around the first team and he can provide guidance for them.
“It’s good for him and he can be a sounding board for me as well with the experience of where he’s played and what he can bring to the group in general.
“Coaching is not something I’ve discussed with him, but further down the line that might be the case, if he wants to go down that route.
“Ultimately, I’ve signed John because
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-ear th 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.