Source: Telegraph
Ricky Sbragia eyes longterm Sunderland deal
Sbragia is on an 18-month deal but he hopes to be rewarded with a new contract should he safeguard his club's Premier League status.[LNB]"If we stay up we'll talk again in the summer regarding the contract," said Sbragia, who succeeded Roy Keane after his resignation two months ago. "I've got to plan as if I'll be here for years, I can't think short term and we have to plan the recruitment side.[LNB] Related ArticlesCisse's future under threat[LNB]Quinn defends Short after attack[LNB]Sunderland's Short may lose invisibility[LNB]Sunderland in great hands under Ellis Short, says chairman Niall Quinn[LNB]Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn holds clear the air talks with Roy Keane[LNB]Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn praises Ricky Sbragia[LNB]"I know there's not that great amount of continuity up top but there can be. I've got no problems with the situation. I've got great communication lines with Niall and that's made it easer.[LNB]"We've got a meeting on Wednesday regarding recruitment: who we need who we've earmarked. I would hope we can put things into place if we stay up. It's going to take time but the nucleus of people here will do well for the club."[LNB]As Sbragia, 52, prepared to head to Liverpool for Tuesday's game, he outlined the influence Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has had on his fellow Scot, who spent three years as reserve team manager at Old Trafford.[LNB]"I learnt to do it the right way under him," Sbragia said. "It's a family atmosphere and players and staff stay there for 15 years and continuity is important, it's something we're looking for here.[LNB]"It was a joy to go there and work every day. I knew what I had to do and I got on with it. As for continuity at Sunderland, we're doing it now by putting things into place I think should be done."[LNB]"I'm pleased to have 31 points but we've not achieved what we want to achieve. We've got to make sure we get the results to make it difficult for the teams below us."[LNB]Sbragia has also played down suggestions that former Sunderland manager Peter Reid could return to Wearside as the club's director of football. "I spoke to Niall last week about it and we'll just leave everything to the summer," he added.[LNB][LNB]
