Sbragia seeks help

While attempting to avoid calling any new addition to the backroom team at the Stadium of Light a director of football, Sbragia does admit he has floated the idea of appointing a new face to deal with tasks normally associated with such a role.

Sbragia’s promotion from first team coach to manager following the departure of Roy Keane will soon be followed by Tony Loughlan’s exit as head coach, which leaves the Sunderland coaching team down by two.

But after being forced to spend Wednesday away from the training pitch this week while trying to bolster his squad with “two new defenders”, Sbragia is ready to ask a new assistant manager to take over behind-the-scenes responsibilities.

He discounted suggestions that former Sunderland managers Malcolm Crosby, currently Middlesbrough’s number two, or Peter Reid were being lined up, although he did admit to having someone in mind. After spending the majority of the January transfer window on the phone, however, Sbragia feels it is a case of the sooner the better.

“I am thinking about bringing someone in, possibly above me to take a lot of that off me,” said Sbragia.

“We might need that sort of continental type of structure.

It wouldn’t be someone to become my boss, but to deal with the agents and every day matter, to let me get out on the training field. It would be someone I trust and know and that’s important to me.”

Sbragia is quite strong in his belief that his new assistant will not be appointed by Quinn and that the decision would be made by himself; wary of feuds that have existed between the director of football and manager at clubs like Spurs and Newcastle.

“I mean he would deal with the ugly stuff,” said Sbragia, who will promote Neil Bailey as head coach once Loughlan has departed.

“It is an area we have been talking about. We need to work together more on the training field.

“We have a link with Niall at the minute. We discuss the transfers and we must speak three or four times a day to see how things are progressing, but we need another member of staff.

“Maybe when the window closes it will be much better for me and I just have to suffer this until February 2. I don’t want to be office bound.”

One of the biggest problems Sbragia has encountered this month is just how many calls are required to discuss possible transfer targets in his hunt for new additions.

Having knocked back the chance to sign Danny Shittu from Bolton and denied suggestions he is in for West Ham pair Callum Davenport or James Collins, he has been told to pay £3m for Hearts centre-back Christophe Berra.

“Maybe I had been too naive in saying we were after a defender because I ended up taking 50 calls,” said Sbragia.

“The problem that I didn’t realise is that a player seems to have one agent and probably 20 runners, that is a massive problem.

“We have been linked with every defender going. I have two people in mind.

“It’s important that we keep their identities quiet for the club, the player and us.

Hopefully we will have someone in before Tuesday’s game with Fulham.”

The need for a new defender has become more pressing after Nyron Nosworthy was ruled out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring problem.

George McCartney, though, returns to the squad that faces Blackburn today for the first time in two months after recovering from foot trouble.

Blackburn’s visit to Wearside for this afternoon’s FA Cup fourth round tie is a slight distraction from the battle for Premier League survival. And, while making no secret of his intention to make changes, Sbragia insists that making the fifth round is in his thoughts.

“I am not fielding a weakened side I am fielding a side to win the game,” said Sbragia.

“All I am concerned about is sending out a team which is going to win.

“It would be nice to get through, but I have got another side of me keeping an eye on the Fulham game. This game will show me how strong the squad is and that will be determined by the performance and the result.”