ELATED chairman Bob Murray has described the satisfaction he has felt from witnessing manager Mick McCarthy re-establish Sunderland as a Premiership club, writes Paul Fraser.

The Black Cats have struggled through financial difficulties ever since losing top-flight status two years ago, with large numbers of big name players departing.

But McCarthy has transformed Sunderland's playing staff from a side battling to break into the Championship play-offs into title winners with a mixture of youth and experience.

And Murray, well aware money will have to be spent before their Premiership comeback in August, admits it is a massive relief to everyone concerned with the club.

He said: "Unless you were on our board you wouldn't realise what relegation meant.

"We have had to make so many people redundant. It has been hard. The two hardest years as a board to keep us out of administration.

"It would have been very easy to go the way of Sheffield Wednesday or Nottingham Forest. We have been walking a razor blade keeping the bank happy, keeping the fans happy while trying to keep a competitive team. We have 20,000 season ticket renewals already. We are going to enjoy this and get on with next season tomorrow."

And Murray, criticised during the relegation season for allowing Peter Reid to pay massive amounts of money on players who failed to perform, is confident he has the right man in charge to keep Sunderland in the Premiership for years to come.

He added: "I have enjoyed working with Mick. What you see is what you get. He is a straight talking South Yorkshire man and I am certain he can manage in the Premiership. It is a tremendous chance for him.

"He will be coming asking for money and I don't mind that. That is what it is about. First I am going to enjoy this. I will have a number of meetings and that is when everything starts. We are a big club but there are lots of big clubs."