Wednesday 3 June 2015 10:27, UK
Jermain Defoe believes the Sunderland squad would have loved Dick Advocaat to remain at the club as manager.
The 67-year-old Dutchman turned down the offer of a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light after succeeding in his task of keeping the club in the Premier League.
Advocaat's part in Sunderland's survival means he leaves with an excellent reputation among the club's supporters - and that respect extends to the dressing room.
Speaking from St Lucia, where his charity foundation is funding the building of a childrens' home, Defoe told Sky Sports News HQ: "He had a job to do when he came in and he did what was required.
"I think the fans would have loved to have seen him stay on, and probably most of the players. I made a few jokes, like 'I'll see you next season', and he sort of laughed it off."
I think the fans would have loved to have seen him (Advocaat) stay on, and probably most of the players.
Defoe signed for Sunderland in the January transfer window after leaving Toronto FC and scored four goals, all of them in positive results.
His favourite is understandably cited as the sizzling strike from distance which gave the Black Cats a 1-0 derby win over Newcastle at the Stadium of Light.
"I just felt like I had to do something special," said Defoe. "It was just instinct. I thought 'I'm just going to hit it.'
"As soon as I connected, I almost felt to myself 'why me? Why has this happened to me?' It was just a great feeling."
Defoe knows Sunderland must improve over the summer and the first task facing the club is to appoint a successor to Advocaat.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche and Sam Allardyce, whose contract at West Ham was not renewed, are both candidates but whoever the manager is, Defoe says another relegation battle would not be acceptable.
"After the Arsenal game when we stayed up, I said, 'yeah, it was good we stayed up' but at the same time, we do not want to be in the same position next season, scrapping for results and at the same time looking at other results," the 32-year-old added.
"You want to be in a position, especially in the second half of the season, where you can enjoy your football and think about finishing somewhere where the club has never finished before."
