TORE ANDRE FLO last night promised he would not turn his back on Sunderland if they go down.

Sunderland's moneymen are expected to demand the sale of their biggest earners and most prized assets, including Flo, in the event of relegation.

The Norwegian's failure to recapture his top form - he has not scored a goal in 2003 - is one of the principal reasons behind the club's demise this season.

Flo believes he has been hindered by "unfair" comparisons with Niall Quinn, whose No 9 shirt he inherited on his arrival from Rangers.

But the 29-year-old confirmed he would remain loyal to Sunderland if, as seems increasingly likely, they begin next season in the Nationwide League.

He said: "I would be happy to stay, even in the First Division. I like it very much here and I would like to have success here.

"Has it been the hardest time in my career? It hasn't really felt like that but I suppose if you just look at the results, then maybe.

"I have still enjoyed being here and working with these players. That is a strange thing to say if you look at the table.

"It has been a difficult time, but I love it here. It's a shame the results haven't been as good as we hoped.

"I want to repay the fans. The club might have to get rid of someone because of the financial situation, but I think people want to stay and turn things around.

"I haven't seen anyone who doesn't care; nobody here has that attitude at all.

"We have eight matches left. Let's just give it a go and give everything we have. We will take one match at a time and see how far we can get.

"I would rather finish third-bottom than bottom. It is difficult being bottom - nobody wants to be last. Let's go up as many places as we can."

Flo has failed to strike up a prolific understanding with Kevin Phillips since becoming Sunderland's record signing at the end of August.

A return of just four goals in 24 Premiership games has been scant return on the club's big investment that represented Peter Reid's final gamble.

But Flo reckons his billing as an identikit replacement for Sunderland legend Quinn has been a barrier to his progress.

He said: "I might have been compared a bit too much to Niall Quinn and what he did here. To compare me with Quinny wouldn't be fair.

"He was a great player but I'm a different kind of striker.

"I like the ball mostly on the ground, no doubt about it. But I've been trying my best to improve my strength and my ability with my head.

"I have worked hard to get stronger. I have got a long way to go to be as strong as he was. I'm just not that type of player.

"It's a big part of playing in England, so I have to keep working. At least I have become better at it.

"When you are at the bottom of the table, you get more high balls to deal with than if you are higher up, when you play more football and are more relaxed.

"The way it is now, it isn't easy to relax and play football.

"As a striker, I'm desperate to get a goal and just get going again. Some of my play has been OK but I just need to get going in front of goal.

"You have to keep on believing in things you do and situations can change very quickly."

* Sunderland's Stadium of Light will host England Under-21s' European Championship qualifier with Slovakia on June 10.

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