Poyet inks new Black Cats contract

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has ended speculation over his future by signing a new contract with the club.

The Black Cats confirmed last night that the 46-year-old Uruguayan, who led the club to Premier League safety at the end of last season, has put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2016.

Poyet said: “I am delighted to extend my stay with Sunderland AFC after an unbelievable season and our famous great escape.”

The news will come as a huge boost to both owner Ellis Short and fans on Wearside after Poyet was linked with the vacancy at Southampton following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.

Sources close to the club had issued a hands-off warning to the Saints as bookmakers slashed the odds on his appointment, but they have now moved decisively to tie up their head coach.

Former Brighton manager Poyet was appointed as Paolo Di Canio’s successor in October last year on a two-year deal with the club bottom of the table and having claimed only a point from their first seven league games.

However, he managed not only to keep them up, but to take them to the Capital One Cup final too, and is now planning to ensure their seemingly perennial battle against relegation becomes a thing of the past.

Poyet said: “Now it’s a different challenge for me and the club and I am relishing the next stage with Sunderland.We achieved so much last season, working together — the club and the fans — and we took many good memories from the season.

“The prospect of creating more of those memories is one which excites me, and now I cannot wait for the next chapter in my career and the history of Sunderland AFC.”

Southampton may have missed out on Poyet but Saints chairman Ralph Krueger claims they have been inundated with calls from some of the “highest quality managers in Europe” and that the club are in their best ever position despite Pochettino’s exit.

“We have the highest quality available players and their agents knocking on our door. There’s a lot of exciting people that want to come.

“Right now, the focus is on people leaving, but that’s normal news broadcast. Behind the scenes there are many people interested in what we’re doing here.”