Sbragia Has Two Games to Make Sunderland Job His Own

Ricky Sbragia will be offered the chance to succeed Roy Keane as Sunderland's manager if the team, under his caretaker charge, impress during their next two Premier League games at home to Blackburn Rovers and away at Everton.

With Sbragia harboring mixed feelings about entering top-level management it is not certain that he would accept such an invitation. "The ball is in Ricky's court," said a source.

While Niall Quinn, Sunderland's chairman, awaits Sbragia's forthcoming auditions he is involved in major changes behind the scenes at the club, with Ellis Short, the majority shareholder, understood to be increasing his stake of just under 30% and assuming full, if hands-off, control. Although Quinn's day-to-day authority is believed to be undiminished, members of the Drumaville group which bought Sunderland in 2006 are scaling down their financial involvement.

Short is happy to leave the choice of Keane's successor largely to Quinn but the former Sunderland centre-forward may need to twist Sbragia's arm.

"If I was offered the job I'd probably take a couple of days to think about it. I wouldn't say yes immediately," Sbragia said last week. The 52-year-old Scot is not playing hard to get but reflecting the inner turmoil of a man who knows the job would make him financially secure but has misgivings about how it would affect his quality of life.

Sbragia will sit down with Quinn to discuss possibilities this week but if he does well against Blackburn and Everton it is thought he will be offered a long-term contract rather than an interim arrangement until the end of the season.