Wilkinson admits saving Sunderland was tougher than expected

Howard Wilkinson admitted yesterday that he did not appreciate how difficult the task of saving Sunderland from relegation was.

Wilkinson and his assistant Steve Cotterill were dismissed on Monday after a run of two wins in 20 Premiership matches. And the former Football Association's technical director said the job of turning around the club's fortunes had been considerably more difficult that he had expected.

"I knew it would be tough, I knew it would be very tough but maybe not as tough as it turned out to be," he said. "It was difficult but do-able. I couldn't allow myself to think anything else. But I thought Fulham last week [a 1-0 defeat] signalled the turning of a corner a little bit."

The former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is being set to be unveiled today as Wilkinson's replacement, and Wilkinson said: "I send my very best wishes for a successful term of office. I hope he can do what I was unable to do."

Speaking after his sacking, Wilkinson said: "I'm still numb from it; shocked, shattered and very disappointed. In particular because I did not get to finish the job and disappointed for the fans up there, who have had a long time of suffering."

McCarthy had been trying to persuade Niall Quinn to join him as his assistant, but the former Sunderland striker has ruled himself out of a return to the club he has just left because he wants to move back to Ireland and concentrate on a career in the media. Having lost that battle, McCarthy is likely to pick Ian Evans, who was his deputy when he was in charge of Ireland, as his assistant.

McCarthy was widely linked with the post in October when the Sunderland chairman, Bob Murray, instead made unexpectedly appointed Wilkinson and Cotterill to succeed Peter Reid. At that time, the 44-year-old Yorkshireman was experiencing a rough ride as manager of the Republic, and Sunderland seemed the ideal escape route.

However, the Football Association of Ireland were asking for a large compensation package, believed to be in the region of £1m, and the club chose the FA's technical director instead.

McCarthy and Quinn have a close relationship from their time together on the international scene, and Quinn is hugely popular with players and fans. Quinn has already sold his house in the North-East, and although he considered working alongside McCarthy, he is set to carry on with his plans.

McCarthy will be welcomed by his new squad and will look to make the most of the Irish connection at the club. Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane played for him at the World Cup finals and Phil Babb also featured in some of his squads.

Sunderland also have a large number of Irish youngsters, including Thomas Butler and Sean Thornton, who have broken into the first team, plus Cliff Byrne and Richie Ryan.

McCarthy, who has been out of work since resigning from the Irish job in November, will need to get immediate results if Sunderland are to avoid relegation, but his appointment is long-term one rather than a quick fix.

Sunderland are bottom of the Premiership with 19 points, but with a further 27 to be won, McCarthy will have cause to believe he can pull off an escape act, especially as four of his new team's next five matches are against fellow strugglers Bolton, West Ham United, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have been accused of "pressing the panic button at a very strange time" by the League Managers' Association chief executive, John Barnwell. Barnwell questioned the club's wisdom in dismissing Wilkinson and Cotterill so soon into their tenure.

"We can't dictate to chairmen or managers, we can just prove to them that the removal of managers after short terms in charge is historically not a successful move," he said. "If they appoint a replacement quickly they will have had three managers in one season. Coventry and Derby also had three managers in one season and look where they are now."