O’Neill looks for positivity at Sunderland

New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has admitted that results are the most important thing for the struggling Premier League side, and the fact that he supported the Bantams as a child will count for nothing should things not go well.

The Northern Irishman took over at the Stadium of Light after the sacking of Steve Bruce, and inherits a team that are only a point above the relegation places heading up to Christmas.

The fact that O’Neill is a Sunderland fan won’t have any bearing on his chances at the Wearside club however according to the new man.

“It’s a great football club but I wouldn’t want to play too much on the ‘Sunderland boyhood hero’ type thing,” O’Neill said as he was officially unveiled by the club to the press.

“It might give me two games’ grace – we’re in the results business.

“I played football – I never played for Sunderland – and then went on to manage, so obviously you’re very selfishly involved in your own team at that time.

“But now it’s come together and I’d just like to make a success of it if I can,” he stated.

The ex-Aston Villa coach’s first game in charge is a relegation six-pointer against fellow summit dwellers Blackburn, and O’Neill knows the importance of getting the three points.

“Sunday is a very, very important game for us, the players are well aware of that. We need to start winning some matches and the sooner we can do that the better,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight