Source: SKY_Sports
Sbragia reveals Cats 'nightmare'
Ricky Sbragia has admitted that his final weeks in charge of Sunderland were a 'nightmare'.
The Scot stepped down from his post at the Stadium of Light following a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea on the final day of the 2008/09 campaign.
He was able to guide the Black Cats to Premier League safety in spite of that setback, completing the mandate laid out upon his arrival in the post in December.
Sbragia stepped into the void created by Roy Keane's shock departure, but he was ultimately unable to bring about a reversal in fortune on Wearside as he inherited a side short on confidence and struggling to generate positive results.
He told Sky Sports News: "When I took the job, the brief was to keep us in the Premier League.
"Early doors it was fantastic, we played well and looked as if possibly we could have got a bit further. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
"The last six or seven weeks have been an absolute nightmare for me but it's all come good at the last.
"The players have been fantastic from day one, I've always said that. The staff have been excellent, the admin side really positive.
"We always believed we could stay up, even in the bad times, and obviously it's come true for me on the last day."
Disappointing
Sunderland will be the North East's only representatives in the top flight next season, following Newcastle and Middlesbrough's relegation, and Sbragia admits that is bad news for a football-mad region.
"It's really sad for Newcastle and Middlesbrough," he added. "I know Gareth Southgate, he's a lovely man.
"It'd have been worse if Alan Shearer came to Newcastle and played! He's a very dignified man.
"I feel for them. I wish they could have stayed in the Premier League but it wasn't to be."
