Sunderland live updates

Rose quiet on future

I have thought about my future. When Martin O'Neill was here we did speak briefly.

That has changed and it's not the time for me to go speaking to the new manager about what he wants for next season.

The main priority is to have Premier League status for next year. Once that's sorted, once we are safe, I'm sure there will be a conversation to be had.

I know what I want to do next year and we will just see what happens.

– Sunderland defender Danny Rose speaking to the Journal

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Supporters makes denial

A football fan denied making a racist monkey gesture at a Premier League match when he appeared in court.

Liam Jones, 21, of East Vines, Sunderland, was charged following an alleged incident in the stands of the Stadium of Light when West Brom's Romelu Lukaku scored a goal.

West Brom beat Sunderland 4-2 in the game last November. Jones was arrested after the match and was charged last month with racially aggravated harassment.

Sunderland Magistrates adjourned the case for trial on June 26.

Sessegnon: There's no I in team

Stephane Sessegnon has attributed Sunderland's timely improvement to team-work rather than his own efforts, and insists he gets no special praise from new boss Paolo Di Canio.

He hasn't said anything particularly special to me. Above all, his message has been about working as a team.

That's what we have done in training and tried to do in the games, and you can see the results.

The defence was very solid against Everton and that has been the main thing the new manager has done differently. It's all about working together and functioning together.

– Stephane Sessegnon, speaking to the Sunderland Echo

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Short - Results cost O'Neill

The simple answer as to why we changed managers was because our results and performances on the pitch hadn't been good for over a year.

The decision to change manager was made with only one aim - to give us the best possibility of staying in the Barclays Premier League.

I am excited that we were able to bring in Paolo. Paolo is a real training ground coach. His very choice of title of Head Coach rather than manager tells you a lot about him and his approach.

He's a real student of the game, spending hours on the training ground every day.

– Sunderland chairman Ellis Short
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