A FURIOUS Mick McCarthy last night denied there had been any rift between himself and the Sunderland board and refuted claims he always had one eye on relegation, writes Paul Fraser.

The Black Cats boss, who was at the Riverside Stadium to witness Middlesbrough's FA Cup replay with Coventry City, was incensed to read he had been at loggerheads with chairman Bob Murray over quotes attributed to him before the weekend trip to West Ham.

Murray had reacted by labelling comments made by McCarthy - in which he apparently inferred that relegation back to the Football League was always in the chairman's mind last summer - as 'ludicrous' and 'insulting'.

There were suggestions his relationship with the manager he appointed in March 2003 had deteriorated to such an extent that his position was in serious jeopardy.

However, McCarthy last night moved to rubbish the claims and insists his character dictates he would never have ruled out survival in the Premiership.

"We spoke on Tuesday. Bob Murray was having a go at the suggestions and implications," said McCarthy.

"I was not implying any of things that have been said.

"I have too much respect to set out with a losing mentality.

"My relationship with the board has not been affected.

"The chairman has responded to the comments made and rightly so.

"He was insulted by the suggestion but I did not suggest it and I find the whole thing distasteful.

"I have a winning mentality and if it was suggested to me otherwise I wouldn't be here.

"I feel hurt, annoyed and angered by the last couple of days.

In the summer I planned for a season in the Premiership.

"The players I brought in were to compete in the Premiership."

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