Burley believes board have already decided

George Burley has thrown his hat into the ring for the Sunderland manager’s job – but believes the Black Cats’ board have “already decided” on Howard Wilkinson’s successor.

Wilkinson and assistant Steve Cotterill were sacked yesterday after the duo failed to turn around the club’s fortunes since replacing Peter Reid in October, with Sunderland currently rock bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership.