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Sunderland Confirm Advocaat Exit

Several members of the squad were also said to be miffed after Advocaat criticised Adam Johnson following the 3-0 loss at Manchester United and also because he repeatedly questioned the quality of his players in public.

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“I want to thank everyone who has stood behind me”, said Advocaat, who flew home to the Netherlands on Saturday night after cancelling a scheduled training session on Sunday morning. We even had the chances to score 2 or 3 more goals but it wasn’t to be.

But Carl Jenkinson pulled one back in first-half stoppage time and, after Lens’ departure, Dimitri Payet snatched a point.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche, whose club were relegated from the English Premier League last season, has been strongly linked with Advocaat’s job. They would all do a good job. Although an incoming manager is expected to be confirmed during the worldwide break this week.

“Mistakes happen in football; sometimes you can’t do anything about it. Tactically and physically we are fine, but hopefully we will sort out our problems in time for the Crystal Palace game”.

“Beating them and making it six in a row would be brilliant”.

Robinson celebrated five years at the MK Dons helm in May and guided the club into the Sky Bet Championship last season as runners-up to Bristol City after twice missing out in the play-offs.

Paul Dobson, assistant editor of club fanzine A Love Supreme, says continuity is now crucial.

After Roy Keane led them to promotion nine years ago, Bruce, Martin O’Neill, Paolo Di Canio, Poyet and Advocaat have all been embroiled in survival battles.

“It’s nothing to do with me”, he said.

Who will be the next Sunderland manager? I don’t think so. “The club knew that we had to strengthen ourselves, but the chairman never told me how much we could spend”. It would be a shame if he goes.

He won his first trophy, the Dutch Cup, a year later, before adding the Dutch Championship in 1997.

“He seems a good bloke but a lot of people have had concerns over his tactics”.

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There have been mixed messages as to leading candidate Sam Allardyce’s readiness to return to the game over the last 24 hours, while Harry Redknapp has distanced himself from the vacancy and Patrick Vieira is not understood to be in the reckoning.

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and West Ham United at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland north east England