Sunderland's free-fall continued at the weekend as their relegation from the Championship was confirmed at home to Burton Albion.

After going in front against the Brewers, the Black Cats might have been thinking that the great escape was on but a turnaround in the last ten minutes of the match put that idea to bed.

Indeed, the Brewers kept their own staying up dream alive with those three points but for the hosts its off to League One they go.

There's surely got to be changes come the summer at the club, then, but former player and fan favourite Micky Gray is hopeful one thing remains the same - the manager.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Black Cats man said that the club simply has to stay with the ambitious Chris Coleman:

"We've got an enthusiastic manager who has ambitions of managing in the Premier League but that's going to take time but we have to stay with him.

"Him coming out and saying he wants to stay at the club and fight to get into the Championship is really good news."

The Verdict

For sure, Sunderland need to keep Coleman at the club if they can and it looks as though he is open to staying put right now.

With his ambition in mind, though, can we honestly say that he'd turn down a tempting offer from further up the league?

Time will tell.

Thoughts, Sunderland fans? Let us know below!