Next Sunderland manager: Ex-Man Utd striker applies for job

Former Aston Villa and Manchester United forward Dwight Yorke has applied for the Sunderland manager's job.

Sunderland are searching for their next head coach following Michael Beale's departure in February, with Mike Dodds handed the job on an interim basis until the end of the season. That has given the club the time and space to conduct a full search process.

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. 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. 

"Seeing the changes of managers, watching the team knock on the door for promotion, getting relegated to League One, I've seen a lot of Sunderland to know exactly what is going on up there. 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, and what the team means to them," Yorke exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone.