McCarthy has no regrets about taking job at Sunderland

MICK McCARTHY has no regrets about taking on the job at Sunderland — despite realising he now faces a titanic task to keep the club in the Barclaycard Premiership.

McCarthy's hopes of making a winning start to his Stadium of Light career just three days after taking over from the sacked Howard Wilkinson were dealt a sobering blow with Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by fellow relegation strugglers Bolton.

The optimism on which McCarthy breezed into Sunderland was replaced by what the Yorkshireman described as "a reality check," and the serious prospect his summer rebuilding plans will be geared towards life in Division One next season rather than the top flight.