Sergeant Wilko and Cotterill to crack whip at Sunderland

HOWARD WILKINSON assumed his new mantle as manager of Sunderland yesterday and promised an approach ‘‘as modern and forward-thinking as anywhere in the world’’.

Wilkinson, who has left his job as FA technical director, and his number two Steve Cotterill - formerly manager of Cheltenham and Stoke - are among only 12 coaches in Britain to hold the UEFA pro licence, the highest qualification in Europe.

But the man known in his previous club job at Leeds as Sergeant Wilko for his tough, uncompromising style has not lost his edge.