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Dick Advocaat will keep Sunderland up, according to Neil McCann

Dick Advocaat
Image: Dick Advocaat: New Sunderland manager

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann believes Dick Advocaat will be handed the Sunderland job on a permanent basis after preserving their top-flight status this season.

Advocaat, who took McCann to Ibrox during his time in charge of the Scottish club in 1998, has been given nine games to keep Sunderland in the Premier League following Monday's dismissal of Gus Poyet.

Poyet was shown the door after last Saturday's 4-0 home defeat to fellow-strugglers Aston Villa left them just one point outside the bottom three.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, McCann, currently a coach at Dunfermline, said: "I think he can definitely keep them up this season. He is one of those coaches who is always thinking and always trying to get the better of the opposition. 

"If he does keep them up then why wouldn't the Sunderland fans want someone like that at the head of their team?

"He will then be able to go and reinforce the squad in the summer, buy in players. We have seen the impact that Ronald Koeman has had at Southampton.

"I am not saying that Dutch is best, by no means, but they play a style of football that is attractive and Dick Advocaat has proved in the past that he can be successful.

"I also know he always wanted to coach in England at the highest level. He has that chance now and to enable him to start afresh next season he has to keep Sunderland up... and I think he'll do it."

And McCann, who won all three domestic honours with Advocaat during their time together at Ibrox, believes the Dutchman will have an immediate impact at the Premier League strugglers.

'Different style'

Despite embarking on the 21st appointment of his managerial career, McCann is convinced the 67-year-old will waste no time in stamping his authority at the Stadium of Light.

I am not saying that Dutch is best, by no means, but they play a style of football that is attractive and Dick Advocaat has proved in the past that he can be successful.
Neil McCann

"The players are going to notice a different style of coaching and the one thing they will see when Dick Advocaat takes to the coaching field is a presence," he said.

"He doesn't stand about, he doesn't suffer fools, he is so organised and has a very disciplined approach to everything.

"And I am not just talking about football. That includes everything off the field too. How the boys turn up to training, how they eat and the style of football they play.

"He will have them attacking and I think that is something Sunderland have lacked of late. 23 goals in a season is poor but with guys like Jermain Defoe, Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher they have creativity and goals and I think Dick Advocaat will find that formula... and find it fast.

"I found him a brilliant coach. He did some things with Rangers that I didn't see coming. He will throw things up and see things differently and Sunderland fans can be assured he is 100 per cent completely focused on football. Sunderland fans are getting a vastly experienced manager and a brilliant coach.

"A lot of questions will be asked if he is the right man for a scrap down at that end of the table, but don't forget Sunderland have good players and maybe they just need a bit of leadership and a bit of cohesion.

"Dick Advocaat will bring the organisation that is required. He will absolutely demand that from training through to games and he will get the players working together like clockwork."

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