Source: Daily_Mail
Short at Sunderland for the long haul: Horror show does not scare tycoon
Sunderland's prospective new owner Ellis Short has not been put offby the club's horror show at Portsmouth and is still on course for asummer takeover.
The Irish-American millionaire was at Fratton Park with chairmanNiall Quinn to see Sunderland's misfiring stars fail to guarantee theirBarclays Premier League safety.
But Short, who has gradually invested in the club, is preparing to assume overall control from Quinn and his Irish backers over the next month and in fact last night's woeful display has only galvanised the United States-based businessman and his team.
That will spell the end of Ricky Sbragia's reign, although the amiable Scot is likely to be retained in a coaching role with the first team when Short finds his successor.
SportsMail understands that Celtic boss Gordon Strachan tops the Sunderland wish list, and the former Southampton and Coventry manager is ready to quit the Scottish champions after this season's title race north of the border is concluded at the weekend.
The Wearside club took on new board members with experience in Holland but lost out on Louis van Gaal to Bayern Munich and would have their work cut out persuading high profile coaches like Marco van Basten, Ronald Koeman or Frank Rijkaard to take the reigns at the Stadium of Light.
What is certain is that Short has money to spend and invest in Sunderland, and having taken in several grim encounters this season, he knows the club and the team need it.
