Alex Neil wants to lead Sunderland in the Championship next season - but admits he needs to speak to the club hierarchy to ensure he has the backing he will need. Neil's Black Cats secured promotion from League One via the play-offs this afternoon, defeating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 at Wembley.
It means that when the new season kicks-off on July 30, Sunderland will be back at Championship level for the first time since 2017-18. There will need to be major investment in Sunderland's squad and behind-the-scenes to compete in the Championship, and that will be the main area Neil wants to discuss with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus in the coming days.
"There are a lot of discussions to take place between me and the hierarchy and the owners and all that sort of stuff, and I'm sure that will take place over the next couple of days," said Neil, who arrived at his post-match press conference clutching a can of lager.
