STEVE Book, a Steve Cotterill disciple when he led Cheltenham Town from the Dr Martens League to the Second Division, last night warned the Sunderland players: "Shape up - or ship out."

Book, whose uncle Tony was sacked from his scouting post at Sunderland in last week's managerial purge, knows Cotterill will ignore reputations as he sets about trying to restore his new club's battered reputation.

Cotterill and Howard Wilkinson have already stamped their authority on Wearside's multi-million pound squad by ordering gruelling double training sessions.

Now, goalkeeper Book has told Kevin Phillips and Co that they must conform to Cotterill's ideas - or find themselves on the Sunderland scrapheap.

Book, 33, said: "Steve has gone from working with non-league players to Premiership players; from people who earn peanuts to millionaires.

"But his attitude will be the same as when he worked with us in the Conference: 'If you don't do it my way, you won't be in the team.'

"At Cheltenham, the players in the team knew that we had to continue working hard, or we'd be out.

"Steve makes players work very hard in training and he makes sure he gets his point across.

"But he knows how to get the best out of players. He's a good man-manager. He puts confidence in players as soon as he starts working with them.

"The first thing he said to me when I met him was that he would turn me into the goalkeeper for England's non-league team.

"I laughed at him - but within 12 months I was playing for them. He had more confidence in me than I did.

"He's as honest as the day is long and he's not afraid to raise his voice in the dressing room.

"I was on the end of a few rollickings but you know that when he shouts at you, you deserve it.

"For what Steve did for Cheltenham and our careers, we've all got the utmost respect for him."

While Book is delighted his mentor has been fast-tracked to the Premiership, the departure of his uncle Tony left a sour taste.

Tony, who played for and subsequently managed Manchester City, was dismissed along with Peter Reid from Sunderland.

His nephew added: "It was a shame that my uncle went but he's going to go wherever Peter goes."

Read more about Sunderland here.