Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald has confirmed that he will back the club's new manager Phil Parkinson in the January transfer window.

It was recently reported that the business consortium FPP Sunderland have invested around £10million into the club, and it seems there are already plans on how Sunderland will use that money.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Newcastle, Donald was asked if any of those funds would be available to Parkinson when market reopens, with the Sunderland chairman admitting that was one area where the money could be used, as he said: "The biggest single priority is getting out of the league.

"If we need to spend, we'll spend."

Discussing Parkinson's initial assessment of the squad he has on his hands, it does seem as though some January recruitment could be on the cards, as Donald continued: "Having spoken to the manager and got his initial assessment of the squad, there's no doubt he's going to want to strengthen the squad.

"He sees some positives but also some things we need to address."

That is something Donald appears to have been prepared for when he appointed Parkinson, as he added: "I was always realistic, getting a new manager always costs quite a bit of money because generally they want to have their own team around them and they'll have their eye on a few players."

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It has been a difficult start to life at the Stadium of Light for Parkinson, with the Black Cats winning just two of their eight games in all competitions under their new manager culminating in a 3-0 defeat away to League Two strugglers Scunthorpe United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.

The Black Cats currently sit seventh in League One, one point adrift of the play-off places, and eight points off the automatic promotion spots.

The Verdict

This looks to be an encouraging sign for Sunderland at least.

Things haven't exactly been going well for them at the minute, so the chance to strengthen in January could be crucial to their hopes of getting back to the Championship this season.

If they are able to get to the turn of the year within touch of the promotion places, then the recruitment they can make at the point could give them the kick they need to secure that place in the second tier.

With it seeming as though much of that recruitment is going to come from players chosen by Parkinson however, there can be no doubt there will be plenty of pressure on him to get those signings right, both for his side's hopes of promotion and his own future at the club.