Sunderland’s temporary boss Dick Advocaat has hinted that he had been lined up by the club to replace former manager Gus Poyet long before the Uruguayan was actually dismissed, according to the Sun.
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“I expected they would do it earlier — but they didn’t,” Advocaat told Dutch television when asked about Poyet’s sacking.
Considering the former Rangers boss has never been involved with English football, the suggestion that he was keeping up with the Sunderland situation prior to getting the job implies that he has been in the club’s thoughts for some time.
But it took the Black Cats’ 4-0 humiliation at the hands of fellow strugglers Aston Villa for the board to finally end Poyet’s tenure at the Stadium of Light, and the former Rangers boss has criticised his predecessor’s style.
“Poyet was a coach who is self-focused and they were looking for someone with experience, a guy who knows what it’s about,” Advocaat explained.
Sunderland currently sit one place and one point above the bottom three, and the Dutchman has nine games to save their season. But even if the 67-year-old manages to keep them in the top flight, he is not expected to be in contention for the role come next season.