MICK McCARTHY last night admitted he may not be in the managerial chair at the Stadium of Light if he fails to guide Sunderland to promotion within the next two years.

The Black Cats have made a promising start to life in Division One with many supporters beginning to think there is every chance of a quick return to the Premiership after just one year away.

McCarthy has steadied the ship after relegation, but he knows he has to ensure Sunderland are back in the top-flight sooner rather than later.

The club's board have recently suggested that if a place among this country's elite is not achieved by the end of the 2004-05 campaign then financial figures would have to be reassessed.

And they are determined to make sure that Sunderland do not face a cash-crisis similar to the one which followed when they dropped out of the Premiership in May.

McCarthy refuses to be drawn on the figures, although he said: "I don't get involved in the financial side of things. As the manager I get on with the football things and it is not my brief to do anything other.

"In two years' time, I'll be blunt about this, it might not even be my trouble if we have not been promoted. We all want to get this club into the Premier League and I'm not talking about financially. This club deserves to be in the Premier League again."

If McCarthy is going to steer Sunderland back into the Premiership at the first attempt then he knows goalscoring has become a problem. His side have failed to score in five of their last seven matches but he is refusing to blame his front two.

Top-scorer Kevin Kyle has not scored in seven games, while Marcus Stewart has just two goals in 13 outings.

But McCarthy, who has Michael Proctor and Tommy Smith vying to replace hip injury victim Kyle at Crewe today, said: "You can't lay the responsibility at the doors of the strikers because I would like goals from all players. Kyle has gone back for every corner kick and Stewie has been defending well. As a team we just have not been sticking the ball in the net.

"I think we have been playing as well as anybody in this league. In the games we have not scored we have been solid."

This afternoon's trip to Gresty Road sees McCarthy go head-to-head with the longest serving manager in the Football League.

Dario Gradi celebrated 20 years as Crewe boss in June and during that time he has helped David Platt and Danny Murphy become England internationals.

McCarthy said: "Dario has ran his club successfully for a long time now. He has brought players up through the ranks and then he has sold many on for good money.

"He produces good players and he tries to get his sides to play good football. He has done a terrific job there."

Sunderland full-back Stephen Wright spent two spells on loan at Crewe in the 1999-2000 season - when he was an 18-year-old learning his trade at Liverpool.

And Wright, who went on to represent England Under-20s at the World Youth Championships that year, believes his time under Gradi's guidance has helped him adapt to life in Division One this time around. "It was playing in front of crowds that was good for me," said Wright, who could not save Crewe from relegation that year. "I had never done that before. Physically it was hard at first but I did come towards it and I adapted.

"It's a good footballing club. Dario was always 'let's play football' and sometimes that's why we got beat a few times in that league.

"I think it is a good example for young players to go there because it gives you good experience."

Wright played alongside a number of players who are still at Crewe now - namely Clayton Ince, Tony Sorvel and Kenny Lunt.

* McCarthy has agreed to extend goalkeeper Thomas Myhre's loan spell at Crystal Palace. He joined Palace on an initial month's loan which was scheduled to expire following today's trip to Walsall.

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