Ricky Sbragia has no regrets before final battle

Ricky Sbragia harbours no second thoughts about succeeding Roy Keane as Sunderland’s manager, in spite of the club’s struggle against relegation this season.

Sbragia will revert to his former role as first-team coach irrespective of his side’s result against Chelsea on Sunday, but is content to assume the responsibility for Sunderland’s fate.

As Sbragia admitted yesterday, Sunderland “only have ourselves to blame” for failing to secure their position in the Barclays Premier League and no bitterness will be felt if Sir Alex Ferguson names a weakened side for Manchester United’s fixture away to Hull City. “He will do what is right for Manchester United and he is correct to do that,” Sbragia said.

Victory over Chelsea, who play Everton in the FA Cup Final the weekend after, would ensure a third consecutive season in the division for Sunderland, who are two points clear of the bottom three. That was the essence of Sbragia’s remit when he replaced Keane in December and although the team’s form has crumbled since their 0-0 draw away to Arsenal in February, he would regard that outcome as “an achievement”.

“Everything stops and starts with me, it’s as simple as that and I never blame the players,” Sbragia said. “I know what I have taken on and what I had to do and hopefully by Sunday I will have achieved that.

“Just now we are in limbo. We can’t really plan anything until 6pm on Sunday and then everything changes — if we do stay up, I will have a few jars.”

Sbragia has another full season of his contract to serve, but Niall Quinn, the chairman, will seek to make a high-profile appointment this summer; an arrangement that suits all parties. Sunderland are also on the verge of announcing that Ellis Short, the Irish-American businessman, has completed his takeover of the club, which will provide them with financial security and rich possibilities.

“Staying up is my aim this year and that’s it,” Sbragia said. “Niall asked me to take the job, it was a difficult job and I could have said no to it and ducked the issue, but I thought we could stay in the Premier League. Even though we stayed in the league last year under Roy — credit to him for that — I knew it would be difficult again, no matter what you’re paying players.

“I don’t regret it. There are not many managers in the Premier League. It is hard work — enjoyable when you are winning and really hard when you lose — but if you get the opportunity, you don’t turn it down. There is no way I thought I would be a manager, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty and you are asked, you have to take it. I could have ducked it, but I would have regretted it.”

Sunderland, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough have vehemently denied reports that they are considering legal action in the event of them being relegated by virtue of Hull beating a depleted United side. “Sir Alex will play a team to win it,” Sbragia said. “I would never be critical. He may play the likes of Darren Fletcher, Gary Neville and Wes Brown and they are not reserve players. He will put a strong team out.”

Sbragia worked under Ferguson as reserve-team coach at Old Trafford and has remained in contact with Fletcher, who is suspended for the Champions League final against Barcelona on Wednesday. “I spoke to Fletch the other day to see how he was because obviously he was down in the dumps and I asked if he had his final ticket — or if he had a spare one.” he said. “They are confident.”