SUNDERLAND are facing up to a huge reality check; and John O’Shea accepts they have to learn all about the muck and nettles of League One quickly.

With two games left in the Championship, starting with Fulham tomorrow before ending a calamitous season against Wolves, the Black Cats will next season face the likes of Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood, Rochdale and Southend.

Opposition who the club’s Under-23s would normally be facing in the Checkatrade Trophy will be part of the standard fixture list come August.

“League One is something we don’t know a lot about, but we soon have to learn about it and prepare for it,’’ accepted O’Shea.

“The sooner the better for the club, players, staff –everyone and we hope it’s done quickly.

“Other clubs have dropped into League One and if we look at those examples of clubs who have dropped down, they have bounced back stronger in a sense.

Chris Coleman’s side is the 23rd team to have played in the Premier League, but dropped two divisions. Some have bottomed out at that level, regrouped, galvanised and regained some pride.

Blackburn Rovers were promoted back to the Championship on Wednesday after one season in League One.

O’Shea admitted: “Ask the fans at the time of those clubs and they didn’t want to drop down to that level, but they regrouped and had the backing of the fans and the loyalty I’m sure they remained with them.

“A winning team gets the feel-good factor with it. Supporters want to see a winning team. When I signed on for this season 12 months ago I hoped it would be the case that momentum would swing back with us and we weren’t able to get that momentum going.’’

Out of contract this summer, O’Shea has to make a decision on his future. He recently rubbished reports he was set to quit, but it’s hard to see a defender of his standing in League One. Coaching or management is a route he plans to go down in the near future.

“I’ve been doing my A licence for the last few summers, bit by bit and I wanted to get them done while I was still playing,’’ he mused. “It’s all still raw at the moment and let’s see what the next few weeks bring.

“I’ve played a lot of games this season, possibly more than I expected. It’s also a sign of the club’s shortcomings in the sense of additions, of what’s needed in the Championship – power, durability of players – teams that are successful in this division have a consistency.

“You get eight, nine ten players playing in the majority of games, that core group mid to late 20s who are banging out consistent performances week in week out.

“That’s almost a proven fact that teams who do well and get promotion do that. I’ve played enough games in my career to get a level of fitness which you need at all levels.

“Playing through little knocks, which may hold you back, but are only a muscle pain not a muscle strain. That’s the difference.’’

The whole future of the club remains up in the air with Ellis Short charging chief executive Martin Bain with the task of finding a buyer.

He’s been weeding out the timewasters from those with a genuine interest. Chris Coleman will speak to the press today ahead of tomorrow’s game at Fulham.

And, after woeful transfer activity in recent years, O’Shea admits the time has come fo the club to show some intent come the summer.

“I don’t know how many times we have left it as late as possible in transfer windows and we need to try and do things quickly because it’s not happened as quickly as we would like it to,’’ he admitted.

“The club knows that and put the statement out on Saturday because it knows what needs to be done.

“Sunderland needs, first and foremost and look after itself. Do that and things can come right. It might have been Aiden (McGeady) who said the level and intensity might have took a couple of players by surprise, but it’s something we should have known about. We all watch enough of the division on the telly to know it.

“We’ve said for a long time now that this club needs to change and we have to hope everything gets in order as quickly as possible.’’