New Sunderland boss facing major rebuilding job

SUNDERLAND’S new manager will face the task of clearing the decks before he presses ahead with his own plans for rebuilding the squad.

As the club prepared to launch its search for Ricky Sbragia’s replacement, preparations were already being made to reshape the playing staff.

The Black Cats confirmed what had been apparent for some time when they announced they would not be taking up the chance to make Djibril Cisse’s season-long loan move from Marseille permanent. In addition, the likes of Dwight Yorke, David Connolly and Arnau Riera are out of contract and will leave the club, while Michael Chopra’s loan move to Cardiff will formally become a permanent £4million transfer once the summer window opens.