DWIGHT YORKE has revealed that he has applied for the vacant Sunderland job.
Yorke played for the Black Cats during the twilight of his career, signing for them when he was 35 in 2006.
The former forward had been playing in Australia at the time and only signed after a phone call from then Sunderland manager Roy Keane.
On concincing Yorke to sign for Sunderland, Keane said: “Towards the end of his career, Yorke had the reputation as a bit of a party animal but I knew Yorke loved the game.
“He was over in Sydney and obviously he was their franchise player. I remember ringing him from the training ground – I’m not sure on the time difference but I rang him and it was pretty bleak.
“I rang him, I said ‘Yorkey do you fancy coming to Sunderland?’ He said ‘Are you serious?’ and I said yeah.
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“He had a penthouse on Sydney Harbour but I said that would always be there, you can always go back to that.
“I said we’ve got a big challenge here but I knew deep down he loved the game and I knew he fancied the challenge.”
After swapping Sydney for Sunderland, Yorke spent three years with the Black Cats, and he told Ladbrokes Fanzone it left a special mark on him.
Yorke said: “I’ve always kept my eye on Sunderland, simply because I had a successful time there. Even though I was at the end of my career, getting them promoted and playing a part in things, it was probably one of my greatest achievements, in the sense that my role as a player had changed.
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“I was surprised at how big a club it was when I got there, but the fanbase is terrific. It’s a great stadium, it’s a great set-up and I can only assume things have improved further over the last few years in terms of the facilities.”
He also confirmed in the interview that he has handed his CV in to the club, with the hotseat being vacant since Michael Beale was sacked.
“It’s a club that I’ve actually handed my CV into recently, if I’m honest, because I want the job. I know enough of Sunderland; I lived in the area for nearly three years, and so I understand the culture up there, and what the supporters want and expect from that team.
“It’s very difficult to assess what’s going on behind the scenes when you’re not in it. You can only assume things, and that can sometimes be a dangerous thought process.
“The important thing would be to go in there and stabilise things. Most importantly, I’m a football fan through and through, and so the football aspect is my biggest concern.
“You’ve got to get the players to buy into whatever you’re doing, you don’t know what the relationship is like between board and management, and exactly what is going on.
“But, watching from the outside, you can only look at what’s going on on the pitch, and they’re underachieving, in my opinion.
“They should be far closer to the play-off spots, if not threatening the automatic spots.
“That should be the expectation at a club like Sunderland. You know you’ve got a terrific fanbase and a fantastic stadium and that Sunderland is – or should be – a very difficult place to go and get a result if you’re the opposition.
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“There’s a strong base to build from, and a club with a good record of winning promotion. “
Sunderland are currently 12th in the Championship, 11 points off Norwich in sixth.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
