Fits His Philosophy

Danny Cowley has a very specific goal in mind when he picks a club to manage – he must be able to add value and build. He took Lincoln City from the National League to League One, where they are now above the Black Cats, and helped develop the off-pitch structure too. Sunderland fit that brief perfectly, with great facilities and a huge crowd that, if they believe in the project, would back him to the hilt. There is no doubt the only way up is up for Sunderland and that is exactly what the former Braintree boss would love. There is a famous story that when they (him and Nicky Cowley) joined Lincoln, they walked onto the pitch, looked at the main stand and pondered on maybe, one day, filling it. Think of that, times ten at Sunderland.