SUNDERLAND chairman Bob Murray was last night accused of holding Stoke City hostage after failing to open talks on a compensation package for Steve Cotterill.

Murray's Stoke counterpart Gunnar Gislason angrily claimed Sunderland's refusal to reach an immediate settlement over Cotterill, who moved to Wearside from the Britannia Stadium last week, was preventing them from launching their search for his successor.

The Potters are still citing the example of David Moyes, whose move to Everton from Preston North End last March netted the First Division club £500,000, as they look to make Sunderland pay for luring Cotterill just four months into a three-year deal.

But the Black Cats countered last night by arguing that when he left, Cotterill activated an escape clause in his contract that entitled Stoke to a payment of around £165,000 should he resign and join another club.

Gislason said: "Sunderland say they are not able to commence talks until Thursday, which was not what I wanted to hear. I am very disappointed.

"I wanted to begin these talks at the start of the week in order to get things moving.

"By not being able to talk until Thursday, we feel we are being held hostage because until we know when and how much compensation Sunderland are going to be paying, we don't know how strong our position is with regard to what we can offer a new manager.

"We had an example last season of a Premiership club, Everton, prising a manager, David Moyes, away from a First Division club, Preston, and we think it is only fair to use that as a benchmark when assessing our claim against Sunderland.

"We feel that once again Premiership muscle has been used against a First Division club and we are left to count the cost.

"Sunderland have got what they want and are now in a position of strength, whereas we are left to pick up the pieces and rebuild.

"We want them to recognise this and co-operate with us in striving to bring this situation to a swift conclusion.

"We know we need to move quickly to appoint a new manager. He is the most important person at a football club and we need to know the strength of our bargaining power so that we can bring in the best possible man.

"I am hoping that Bob Murray will see this and will agree to start the compensation talks now instead of making us wait."

Gislason's comments were given short shrift by Sunderland, who appointed Cotterill as Howard Wilkinson's assistant last Thursday.

A Stadium of Light spokeswoman said: "Steve Cotterill had an escape clause in his contract which could have been exercised by either party and included a specific value in the event he departed Stoke or the club terminated his employment. It is in the region of £165,000 and nothing like £1m.

"The issue of a tribunal is not relevant as this matter was taken care of in his contract of employment, so that if this ever happened the fee was pre-agreed. This is the same principle as Peter Reid's contract.

"The club is aware of the figure involved and is fully prepared to make this payment to Stoke."

Meanwhile, Sunderland were given a major boost last night when Thomas Myhre was backed to be fit for Saturday's game against West Ham United by the Norwegian team doctor.

Myhre, who celebrates his 29th birthday today, will miss tonight's Euro 2004 qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina with a thigh injury.

But team doctor Lars Engebretsen said: "Thomas is able to stand on the leg and has had a really good work-out.

"He's still not able to run at full speed but he can almost certainly play again in a few days."