Advocaat ready to walk away at Sunderland

Dick Advocaat: Sure Sunderland will survive

Dick Advocaat: Didn't fancy a relegation scrap with Sunderland

Dick Advocaat is set to quit as head coach of Sunderland after Saturday’s Stadium of Light clash with West Ham, according to widespread press reports.

Sunderland remain winless in the Premier League and are rooted to the foot of the table and Advocaat is believed to be ready to leave the club and end his seven-month association.

The 68-year-old former Russia coach is set to walk away from the Wearsiders just four months after he was persuaded to return to the club. Advocaat in May announced his retirement after guiding the club to safety last season, but a month later he had performed a U-turn after assurances were made over his transfer budget.

Advocaat walked out of his Friday press conference after being grilled over his Black Cats future and the Sun, Mirror and Mail claim he will quit, regardless of the result against the Hammers.

Earlier on Friday the Dutch boss refused to commit his future to Sunderland and admitted “things can change in a day”.

“But what will happen on Sunday, or a week after Sunday, or nine months after Sunday. Then I will tell you the real story,” said Advocaat.

“When I think it is time to do something then I will do so. The fact is you can be ill tomorrow.

“The fact is I am here and tomorrow I am here.

“But what happens after that – it is the same for all managers – things can change in a day, in a week, in a month, in nine months.”

Two week’s ago the beleaguered boss claimed he would walk away from the club if there was somebody else who could do a better job and it seems that could be the case with Burnley boss Sean Dyche and former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson reportedly top of Sunderland’s wanted list.

And the bookies had almost closed the book on Advocaat on Friday night, with the former Holland coach as short as 1/4 to ‘win’ the sack race.