Former Wales manager Chris Coleman has confirmed that he wants to remain in charge at Sunderland, even if they are relegated to League One.

Coleman joined Sunderland in November, but has been unable to prevent them sliding towards League One with increasing pace. They're now eight points from safety with six games remaining and relegation looks inevitable.

"It's not about the division we are in, it's about who owns the club and what the plan is," Coleman told assembled media at his press conference this week. "It won't be because I'm saying I don't want to be here, not at all. I wanted to manage Sunderland whichever league. It will be what is the future, who is the owner and what are the plans for the club?"

Sunderland owner Ellis Short is in the process of selling the club, but the buyers and the direction they wish to take the club is unknown.

"Am I in the plans? Am I not? The answer to where my future is with someone else. I don't know where we will be yet or who will be with me or who will be here full stop. I hope to God I am here. I want to be here."

Coleman believes that in his short time at the club, he has found a plan which could bring a level of success back.

"All that anybody has to do who buys this club has to do is look at it, the last four or five years, and do it completely different."

The Verdict

Chris Coleman wants to be Sunderland manager next season, but do they want him? He's had six months at present, including a transfer window, but he's been unable to arrest the slide. In truth, he's barely had any impact despite being able to bring in his own players. Contrast that with Garry Monk at Birmingham, just a couple of weeks into the job and they're out of the bottom three. Coleman might still be dining out on his Euro 2016 performance, but life without Gareth Bale isn't as easy as he thought.