Sunderland: Alan Pardew thinks the Black Cats have to follow Newcastle's lead ahead of Championship return

David Moyes, the Black Cats boss, is set for talks about the future following confirmation that they will be dropping out of the Premier League at the end of the campaign.

A decision will have to be made as to whether he remains in charge after a disastrous season which has followed regular battles against the drop before his time in charge.

Benitez stayed on at St James’ Park after last season’s relegation to the second tier and, after reshaping the squad for a year outside of the top-flight, he has taken them straight back up.

Now Pardew, who lost his job earlier this season when Crystal Palace seemed destined for relegation before Sam Allardyce took over, thinks Sunderland owner Ellis Short should take a leaf out of Mike Ashley’s book when he thinks about next season.

“As we know, all the teams in the Championship are gunning to reach the gold mine which is the Premier League, so there are four or five big clubs all poised with good teams going into next season,” the former Newcastle boss told Sky Sports.

“David (Moyes) will have to sit down with the chairman and discuss what the budget is. Even though Sunderland will get the huge injection of parachute money, it doesn’t mean to say they’ll do it the right way.

“Benitez has done things pretty much spot on at Newcastle; he took a big group of top Championship players, some of whom were there already, and his squad have seen him through.

“That would be a good route for David to go down if he can convince the chairman that’s the right route.”