THE fans have spoken. As far as the vociferous majority are concerned, there is no hiding their disappointment over the appointment of Howard Wilkinson as the new manager of Sunderland.

Dour and uninspiring are just two of the adjectives used against him at a time when disillusioned fans wanted to be made excited and optimistic by the likes of Martin O'Neill or David O'Leary.

But, for better or worse, chairman Bob Murray has made his choice. And, having said their piece, it is now time for the supporters of this great football club to give Howard Wilkinson and his number two Steve Cotterill a chance.

Everyone deserves an opportunity to prove their worth and the Wilkinson-Cotterill double act may yet prove to be the answer to Sunderland's growing crisis of confidence.

After all, Wilkinson has a wealth of experience and Cotterill is, by all accounts, one of the most dynamic young bosses in the game.

Sunderland fans deserve to see their team stay in The Premiership. That is where a club with such passionate support belongs and the region benefits massively from having three top flight teams.

With no cash in the kitty, it will be one of the managerial achievements of modern times if Wilkinson can turn round the fortunes of a group of players whose recent performances have been simply unacceptable.

For Bob Murray, it is the gamble of his life. If it backfires, the fans will not forgive him. If it comes off, he will deserve apologies from every member of the vociferous majority.

We wish him and his new management team every success - because the North-East needs Sunderland as well as Newcastle and Middlesbrough flying high.