“The first objective is to appoint an assistant manager, which I hope to do fairly quickly – but I don’t anticipate making too many changes to the staff at this point”. It will be interesting to see how much control the new manager is given over transfers, considering how adverse he was to the idea of a Director of Football at West Ham.
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But, after leading Southend to promotion to League One last season via the play-off final, the 56-year-old Blues boss has suggested he has no immediate plans to leave the Roots Hall hotseat.
“Of course it’s a challenging job”.
But the perseverance of Black Cats owner Ellis Short has paid off.
Congerton, now working his notice after resigning, will not be replaced.
The ex-Hammers captain has been training with Leyton Orient in order to maintain fitness levels since leaving Upton Park towards the end of the transfer window.
Sam Allardyce is lining up Kevin Nolan to be the first signing of his Sunderland reign, per reports in the Daily Mail.
His first home game at the Stadium of Light will be against Newcastle on 25 October, with an away trip to West Brom before that on 17 October. His three predecessors all recorded victories. It’s been a decision fans in north London have been delighted with ever since.
The new Sunderland boss needs to be firm about who can help his side stay up.
“I am very pleased to welcome Sam to our football club”, said Short.
“Sunderland are a club he knows well”.
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“He has vast experience of managing in the Premier League and an understanding first-hand of the north-east and the passion of our fans, which will stand him in great stead”. “The process was made easier by the fact that Sam was such an obvious choice”.
