KEVIN BALL confirmed his arrival as Sunderland's father figure last night, when he pledged to guide the club's players through the choppy waters of the Premiership survival battle.

Ball told the squad that he will be on hand to provide advice and support as they try to stave off relegation in their final 11 matches.

The former Sunderland captain's main responsibility as the newest addition to Howard Wilkinson's coaching staff will be to work with the club's young players.

But he is willing to operate beyond his initial remit and become Sunderland's not-so-secret weapon in their increasingly desperate fight to beat the drop.

Ball, 38, said: "It's in my busy nature to talk to the players. If I saw a situation, I would speak to a player.

"If there's anything I can do to help, I'll do it, and I think Howard would fully understand that as well.

"As a player in a situation like this, you just want to go out and win the next game.

"If you don't do that, it saps you a bit and it can be disheartening, but you have to be strong

"It's not like I'm coming to the club without knowing what it's like for the players.

"I've seen everything at Sunderland and I can understand what they're going through at the moment.

"I know how hard the management and players are working. They desperately want to get it right, and if I can have any input to help I will."

Sunderland's wretched recent run - they have taken just two points from their last nine Premiership games - has left them needing a minor miracle to stay up.

The Black Cats must almost double their current points tally of 19 in their final 11 fixtures to give themselves a chance of staying up.

But Ball is adamant his new charges can pull off the great escape, with encounters with the four teams immediately above them in the table still to come.

He said: "We've still got time to do it and I fully believe the club can still get out of it.

"It's going to be hard but they are good players here, there's no two ways about it.

"I've watched a lot of games this season and I've kicked every ball. Everyone concerned with the club has been frustrated, not just Kevin Ball.

"But it's happened, and it's what we do about it in the future that matters now."

Ball refuses to countenance thoughts of working his way up the Sunderland backroom ladder and becoming boss, even though his long-term aim is to move into management.

For the time being, he is determined to look and learn from the likes of Wilkinson, Steve Cotterill and reserve team coach Jocky Scott.

He worked with Scott at Monday's derby win over Newcastle United.

"We've got a structure mapped out and hopefully I'll have all my badges in the next two to two-and-a-half years," Ball added.

"I had almost ten years here as a player and Howard has given me the opportunity to carve out another career here.

"He made the first approach to me, which I really appreciate, and I can't ask for any more from Howard."

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