Alex Neil looks set to become the next Sunderland manager on a deal until the end of the season, according to the latest reports.
The former Preston North End boss is set to be Lee Johnson's replacement on Wearside, but has a tough task on his hands if he's to deliver promotion to the Championship.
That's been the aim of the Black Cats since 2018, but Kyril Louis-Dreyfus promised five key strategic themes that he would build his new look Sunderland on.
Latest updates as Alex Neil 'agreement reached'
One of those five strategic themes was; 'Developing a football philosophy based upon Sunderland's values and identity.'
The Black Cats owner has repeatedly referred to Sunderland's working class background, and the proposed appointment of Neil would coincide with that strategic theme.
Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland, during his time as Preston North-End boss, Neil said: "My principles are pretty much old fashioned nowadays. I've got morals, principles, standards, work ethic.
"All these types of things. People would probably describe me, if they didn't know me, as 'no nonsense' but it's not as clear cut as that.
"I expect, when the players go out to train, that they train hard. I expect, when we're running, that they run as fast as they can.
"I expect when we're going to press the ball, that they're going with a real willingness to try and win it. That, particularly if you give lads an opportunity form lower levels, you can find that quite easily because they are really hungry.
"They've had to work for everything they've got to get to the point they're at. They've never been handed anything, they're not pampered.
"They've not got the type of money that makes your belly full where you don't really want to work that bit extra.
"That group of players that I've got in the changing room at the moment, they've got all those traits."
