MICK McCARTHY yesterday took charge of crisis-torn Sunderland and maintained he has gained strength for the toughest of managerial challenges from the trauma of the Roy Keane affair.

McCarthy's cataclysmic bust-up with Keane on the eve of last summer's World Cup, precipitated his departure as Republic of Ireland coach after a memorable campaign in the Far East.

Just over four months have gone by since McCarthy and the Irish went their separate ways, and now he is back in football at the Premiership's basement club.

With their top-flight future hanging by a thread, Sunderland this week sacked the disastrous pairing of Howard Wilkinson and his assistant Steve Cotterill, only five months after appointing them following the dismissal of Peter Reid.

Seven points separate the rock-bottom Wearsiders from Bolton - visitors for a critical game this Saturday - and a position of safety.

McCarthy is wisely making no promises, but he will urge his players to defy the odds and prove the doubters wrong.

With the fortitude he has built up, McCarthy said: "I've had a few experiences that help to mould you as a person and as a manager. They haven't done me any harm - they've made me a stronger character.

"I've had a number of little situations over the last few months that caused a bit of interest around the world. It was difficult at times, but it has given me the ability to deal with situations when they arise.

"I feel refreshed after my short break away from the spotlight. It wasn't a break I wanted; if things had gone right I might have been going to Georgia and Albania.''

McCarthy, shortlisted by Sunderland before Wilkinson's arrival, yesterday revealed that Reid offered a glowing endorsement of the club despite their perilous plight.

"I got the call on Monday night and I spoke to Peter after I'd taken the job,'' said McCarthy, who will have trusted lieutenant Ian Evans as his first-team coach and plans talks with former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn about a possible backroom role.

"I'm the third manager here this season,'' added McCarthy. "I don't think there have been bad managers; I think Reidy was a wonderful manager for the club, getting them to seventh in the Premiership two seasons running.

"Reidy was thrilled for me and said it was a wonderful club - and I agree with him. It's a fabulous place and an absolute privilege and a pleasure to be here. Everything about this club is right, apart from results on the field.''

McCarthy has been assured that his position does not hinge on him masterminding a great escape from relegation over the remaining nine games this season.

The 44-year-old Yorkshireman has agreed an "open-ended'' rolling one-year contract, not unlike Sir Bobby Robson's deal with rivals Newcastle.

"It was my idea, and it suits both sides,'' said McCarthy. "Changing managers can be an expensive business. It's an open-ended contract and we're happy with it - there's an agreed clause either way.

"If the club said to me: 'Thank you very much,' I wouldn't be holding them to ransom. Ultimately, I want to come here and be a success for years and years.

"But it's an unfortunate fact of life that you come into a job and talk about divorce before you talk about marriage. You haven't even got the nuptials over and people start talking about the divorce!

"If my only brief was to keep the club up, people would think we had all lost our marbles. I don't want to talk about 'what if the worst happens'. If it does, we'll deal with it.

"Can we stay up? Who knows? Everybody thinks it's impossible, but I believe in being positive and in believing that we can do it. Let's prove people wrong.

"It would be a remarkable achievement for the players. They won't be enjoying their lives at the moment because they are not winning games.

"Some of the lads who played under me with Ireland are here and they're a good set of guys. The other players will be asking them: 'What's he like? Is he a big nosed, miserable so-and-so?'''

McCarthy, whose only other job in club management was with Millwall, admits he has always hankered after a Premiership post.

And he insists his Ireland experience has prepared him for the pressures that go with being at the helm of a major club.

"There's always pressure, but it's relative,'' he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're the bottom club in the Football League or top of the Premiership.

"What's great about Sunderland is that it's a big club and with that comes pressure and expectancy.

"I've had the pressure and expectancy of a nation; it was all around the world wherever you went, even walking down the street in America and bumping into lads from Ireland."

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