AS Peter Reid and Sunderland flounder, so Stadium of Light reject Edwin Zoetebier is prospering.

While an overwhelming majority of fans were voting for Reid to depart as Sunderland manager in two polls, Zoetebier returned to the North-East to show his career is flourishing after grinding to a halt on Wearside.

The prospect of Champions League football at the Stadium of Light could scarcely be more remote, yet a player deemed not good enough for Sunderland when they were in the First Division is starring in the world's most exclusive club competition.

Zoetebier, 32, will be just a footnote in Sunderland's proud history, given that he made just two Worthington Cup appearances for the club in the 1997-98 season before joining Feyenoord.

But although it might be mischievous to suggest Reid is wishing he had kept Zoetebier, given Thomas Sorensen's current dip in form, the Dutchman was largely responsible for his side's 1-0 win at Newcastle United on Tuesday.

He said: "I had a very good pre-season at Sunderland but the manager decided to pick Lionel Perez instead of me.

"I enjoyed my time there and I felt I did very well while I was at the club, but the problem was I didn't play enough.

"I haven't got any hard feelings, though, and it hurts me when I see Sunderland struggling near the bottom of the table.

"They haven't had a good start to the season and it's worrying that they didn't show any fighting spirit against Newcastle.

"Peter Reid was right to say what he said after that game because if they don't battle in games against Newcastle, when are they going to battle? "But it's still very early in the season and I'm sure things will improve for Sunderland very soon.

"All right, Peter Reid chose someone ahead of me, which wasn't a very nice thing to happen to me.

"But he's a good man and a good manager, and I hope he stays at Sunderland. People there mustn't get nervous and it will come right for them."

In a newspaper poll, the results of which were revealed yesterday, 68.8 per cent of people who voted were in favour of Reid leaving the club.

Supporters came down even more heavily in favour of Reid departing in a radio station vote, with more than 80 per cent calling for him to go.

* Sunderland goalkeeper Michael Ingham's loan spell at Stockport County has been extended by a month.

* Sunderland last night returned 900 terrace tickets to Cambridge United ahead of next Tuesday's Worthington Cup tie at the Abbey Stadium.