SUNDERLAND hit the jackpot last night when they thrashed out a deal that could see David Bellion's departure earn the club more money than the sale of Kevin Phillips.

Two months after Southampton paid £3.25m for Phillips, Sunderland secured a bumper pay-out from Manchester United for Bellion that is likely to surpass that figure.

United agreed to give cash-strapped Sunderland £2m immediately for the Frenchman, who left in acrimonious circumstances last season.

But written into the settlement is a further payment of up to £1m based on appearances and international call-ups.

Sunderland will also receive an unspecified percentage of any transfer fee United receive in the event of 21-year-old Bellion leaving Old Trafford - potentially taking the final amount above the £3.25m mark.

The deal will further alleviate Sunderland's huge debts and represents an excellent result for the club, particularly as Bellion started just five Premiership games.

Phillips, on the other hand, is the Black Cats' record post-War goalscorer and became a Wearside legend during his six years in the North-East.

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray said: "We're happy with the package and feel that it's entirely deserved as we lost an exciting and talented young player.

"It's been a long and drawn-out saga, so I'm glad that the matter has been finally resolved.

"It's to the benefit of both clubs that we've been able to reach an agreement without the need for a tribunal. We were very disappointed to lose David as he's a player who should name a good name for himself in the future, but we wish him every success."

The settlement between Sunderland and United came on the same day that a Football League tribunal was due to sit in judgment over Bellion.

As Sunderland celebrated the Bellion windfall, Tom Peeters left the club yesterday after a first-team career that cost them almost £3,000 a minute in transfer fees.

Peeters, signed from Royal Antwerp for £250,000 in 2000, made just one senior appearance - a 90-minute display against Luton Town in the League Cup more than three years ago.

The Belgian midfielder was one of a number of expensive foreign flops that were brought to Wearside by Peter Reid. Peeters's contract was due to expire next June, but Sunderland reached a settlement with him that secured his early departure.

* Leeds striker Alan Smith has urged his teammates not to let their standards drop ahead of an acid four-game test for the troubled Elland Road club.

A bitter Roses battle against Manchester United beckons tomorrow, followed by Premiership matches at Liverpool and at home to Arsenal, with the latter two fixtures sandwiching a Carling Cup tie with Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

''We showed (against Blackburn) what good character and good team spirit we have,'' said Smith.

''It showed with the way we played we all wanted to get a victory and we got it and now we need to build on good performances like that. Reid is staying now, so it's all about us, although we won't be looking too far ahead because we've some hard games coming up.

''But the gaffer knows he has players who will give their all."

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