Ricky Sbragia plans for longterm stay at Sunderland

23 December 2008 14:23
Sbragia, who took the helm following Roy Keane's shock resignation, has been given permission to start planning ahead at the Wearside club and is in the process of signing a new player when the transfer window reopens.[LNB]And the Scotsman has announced he will not try to stop El-Hadji Diouf from a reunion with former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce at Blackburn.[LNB]Sbragia revealed his plans as he prepared for the Boxing Day visit of Sam Allardyce's Blackburn and Sunday's trip to Everton – games which could see him put in charge of the club on a permanent basis.[LNB]"I've put forward a suggestion about bringing someone in and that is being looked at," Sbragia told reporters at Sunderland's Academy of Light training ground.[LNB]"It's early days yet and I haven't got a name but the position I'm looking at is defence, because I think we're a bit thin there.[LNB]"I'll be looking at bringing in an experienced Premiership defender. I don't think we'll look abroad, simply because I think it takes time to get used to the Premiership and to settle in – the time to bring those sorts of players in, is perhaps summer.[LNB]"Who the player is, we'll have to wait and see. We'll look to buy an experienced Premiership defender but if that doesn't work out there's always use of the loan system and, of course, we have an experienced loan player in Paul McShane whose spell at Hull City is something we might look at." [LNB]As for the speculation surrounding Diouf's future, Sbragia added: "That is the sort of thing I will leave to the people upstairs to deal with. In general if anybody wants our players, they know where to come.[LNB]"If Dioufy wants to go and if Blackburn are interested in him, then fine. I have no problem with that, as long as it is done right.[LNB]"If Dioufy wants to go and the deal is right then he can go and I have no problem, but talking to Dioufy recently he seems quite happy.[LNB]"He has been off a week due to his wife having a baby, but I think it might just be speculation." [LNB]Sbragia, the bookmakers' favourite to take over from Keane, is also considering recalling some of the 11 Sunderland players who the Irishman sent out on loan.[LNB]"I've got to be honest and say I'm really not sure what's happening with the loans but it should become a lot clearer after today," Sbragia added.[LNB]"I've managed to speak to some of the lads who have been out on loan, like Greg Halford and Anthony Stokes at Sheffield United. But we have to look at the nuts and bolts of all these deals to see what the situation is with them all individually.[LNB]"There are some players who have been moved out with a view to them moving on, and that won't change. But there are others that we will have to look at more closely and we will look to sort that out soon." [LNB]

Source: Telegraph