Neil confirmed as new Sunderland head coach

Alex Neil has been confirmed as the new Sunderland boss and will take charge of Saturday's League One match at AFC Wimbledon.

The former Norwich boss was appointed as Sunderland's head coach on Friday evening and has travelled with the team to London.

The 40-year-old has agreed a rolling 12-month contract and will be joined at the Stadium of Light by assistant head coach Martin Canning.

After overseeing the team's final pre-match preparations on Friday morning, Neil said: "It is a privilege to be head coach of Sunderland AFC. Everything that I saw from the players this morning made me really confident and gave me belief, so what we now need to do is replicate that on a matchday - when it matters - under scrutiny and under pressure.

"Our task is to try and win as many games as we possibly can and at this moment in time we are focused on this season and this season alone."

The League One club switched their attentions to Neil after talks with Roy Keane broke down, leading to the Irishman turning the job down.

Sunderland were extremely interested in Keane returning to the club after sacking Lee Johnson following a 6-0 loss at Bolton.

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