Sunderland could offer Dick Advocaat new contract

Sunderland will offer Dick Advocaat a fresh one-year contract, should he keep the club in the Premier League. According to reports in The Sun the Black Cats will reward the Dutchman, who is currently in charge until the end of the season, with a new deal if he beats the dreaded drop down to the Championship.

Sunderland placed Advocaat in charge last month following the sacking of Gus Poyet, who lost his job after a crushing 4-0 defeat at home to relegation rivals Aston Villa. Advocaat agonisingly endured a losing start to life in the Mackems dugout after West Ham sneaked a late winner at Upton Park.

However, last weekend the veteran boss led his troops to a simply huge 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Newcastle - courtesy of a stunning strike from Jermain Defoe - a result which puts the club three points and three places above the relegation zone.

Advocaat now has seven matches remaining to keep the north east side in the top-tier, starting with Crystal Palace on Saturday at the Stadium of Light. Stoke, Sunderland, and Everton follow, before two crunch final clashes away to Arsenal and Chelsea. Sky Bet have handed the Black Cats odds of 2/5 to go on and preserve their Premier League status, whereas Bet365 have priced the club at 11/4 to go down.

Bookmakers certainly think that Advocaat will remain in the dugout, as both Sky Bet and Bet Victor have the former Netherlands coached priced as the 7/4 to be the Sunderland manager on the first day of the 2014/15 season. Meanwhile, other contenders for the position include Paul Clement, Sam Allardyce and Paul Bracewell.

Sunderland Bets

• Advocaat to be the Sunderland manager on the first day of next season @ 7/4 with Sky Bet
• Sunderland to stay up @ 2/5 Sky Bet
• Sunderland to go down @ 11/4 with Bet365

Sunderland's Remaining Matches

• Crystal Palace (h)
• Stoke (a)
• Southampton (h)
• Everton (a)
• Leicester (h)
• Arsenal (a)
• Chelsea (a)