Sunderland cannot afford to lose Alex Neil through complacency - he deserves a new contract

In the aftermath at Wembley, Alex Neil spoke about moments. 'Moments in your life, moments in your career.'

Sunderland's play-off final triumph was a moment the club's supporters will treasure, a moment to savour in the careers of the players - and head coach - who celebrated at full-time in front of a sea of jubilant fans bedecked in red and white. But not all moments occur on the pitch.

This summer also represents a moment, and it is a moment the club must seize. Sunderland must ensure that they safeguard and build upon the progress they have made during their promotion season, and in particular over the last three months since Neil took the reins.

It must bring an end to the revolving door policy that made Neil its fourth boss in as many years in League One, its 12th in nine years, and which has left Jack Ross and David Moyes as the only men to complete a full season in charge since Steve Bruce led the team to a tenth-placed finish in the Premier League in 2010-11. Sunderland needs stable leadership now more than ever.

In a game where there are as many opinions as there are fans, managers and head coaches are rarely universally popular. But insofar as that is possible, Neil has the overwhelming backing of Sunderland supporters for the job he has done in galvanising the squad he inherited and finally ending the club's stay in the third tier.

He is seen as a good 'fit' for the club, someone who 'gets' the club, a straight-talking, no-nonsense, Scot who does not merely talk a good game but more importantly has proven he can deliver results. Neil's achievements at Sunderland will not have gone unnoticed in the wider footballing world, however.

He is already an established manager at Championship level who demonstrated