Sunderland appoint ex-Norwich boss Alex Neil as new manager on one-year deal after beating Man Utd icon Roy Keane to job

SUNDERLAND have announced the appointment of Alex Neil as their new manager.

The Scot, 40, has penned a one-year rolling contract with the Black Cats.

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It's expected that he'll be in the dugout for Saturday's clash with AFC Wimbledon tomorrow, having taken training on Friday.

Upon completing the deal, former Preston and Norwich boss Neil said: "It is a privilege to be Head Coach of Sunderland AFC.

"Everything that I saw from the players this morning made me really confident and gave me belief, so what we now need to do is replicate that on a matchday – when it matters – under scrutiny and under pressure.

"Our task is to try and win as many games as we possibly can and at this moment in time we are focused on this season and this season alone."

Sunderland sacked previous boss Lee Johnson after their 6-0 defeat to Bolton a fortnight ago.

Fans had expected Manchester United legend Roy Keane to return to Wearside, having managed the Black Cats between 2006 and 2008.

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But after twice interviewing for the job, Keane sensationally turned his old side down earlier this week.

The hunt then turned to Neil, who has been tasked with getting Sunderland out of League One.

They currently sit fourth in the table, but have a lot of ground to make up on the top two.

Rotherham are top of the league, 11 points clear of Sunderland with a game in hand.

While Wigan sit second just two points above the Black Cats, but the Latics have FOUR extra games to play.

Neil has a history of promotions, having taken Hamilton Academical to the Scottish Premiership in 2014, before getting Norwich promoted to the English top flight a year later.

He most recently managed Preston North End, leaving the Lancashire club after nearly four years in March 2021.

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