SAM ALLARDYCE claims his man management capabilities were a key factor in Sunderland remaining in the Premier League last season.

Having inherited a side that looked all but doomed after they claimed just three points from their opening ten matches, Allardyce successfully engineered a survival push that saw the Black Cats secure their top-flight status with a game to spare.

Whereas Dick Advocaat effectively gave up on a group of players he felt were destined for the Championship, Allardyce cultivated a strong team spirit that ultimately swept Sunderland to safety.

He was forced to overcome a number of difficulties, not least Adam Johnson’s conviction for child sex offences, but felt the experience gained from more than two decades of management was ultimately crucial.

“There are times when you have difficulties, and we had those to overcome,” said Allardyce. “It is all about sticking together to try to get out the other end. The man management side of it has always been good for me - it’s worked quite well.

“I have managed them, man-management is the biggest part of the job today. It’s your guidance and determination, your belief, your desire to achieve certain goals and to set out those goals to the staff behind the scenes and then to players. It was a long road, but we got to the area where we wanted to be.”

Allardyce’s managerial skills saw him repeatedly serenaded by Sunderland’s supporters in the closing weeks of the season, and it is clear he has successfully established a strong bond with the Wearside support.

That hasn’t always the case at some of his former clubs, most notably Newcastle United and West Ham, and he is pleased that his work is being appreciated.

“If you manage your staff and your players, and make tough decisions, you hope you earn the respect you have in the stadium,” he said. “I try to make the atmosphere warm and inviting.”