Cats boss Sbragia lining up an experienced No 2

May 3 2009 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

SUNDERLAND boss Ricky Sbragia has revealed that he is close to appointing an experienced No2 to help him shoulder the burden of managing the Black Cats.

The Black Cats chief has been assisted by first team coach Neil Bailey to this point, but admits that he should have brought in a more experienced man to help him during his difficult first season.

Chairman Niall Quinn has given him the green light to appoint an assistant - and Sbragia is looking for someone like Brian Horton, who provides back up to Phil Brown at Hull.

“It’s close to doing that before the end of the season, maybe I should have done it in the first couple of weeks but I thought I didn’t need it. I’ve got a couple of people in mind.

“I enjoy the job, it’s hard work, maybe looking back I should have brought somebody in to help with a bit more experience.

“Would it be someone like Brian Horton was to Phil Brown? Yes. We’re a bit stretched at the moment.

“I could have done that whole thing a little better, maybe it’s a bit of naivety and I could have done that better and brought somebody in right away, but I thought ‘let’s not rock the boat and change things too much’ when I came in.