DEFEAT on Merseyside this weekend could mean the prospect of Football League status next season becomes reality for Sunderland and Dean Whitehead holds enormous sympathy for the club's fans.

With seven games remaining, and relegation a formality whatever happens on Saturday, the Black Cats are likely to know their fate before Easter, which infuriates their long-suffering supporters.

Despite boasting the third largest club ground in the country, only Old Trafford and St James' Park hold more, the Stadium of Light is set to host Championship football for the third season in four come August.

Such is the anger being felt around Wearside that there was a second successive demonstration after Saturday's defeat to Blackburn, demanding the resignation of chairman Bob Murray and his board. A third is scheduled for the visit of Fulham on April 8.

Murray reiterated last night in a statement issued under Stock Exchange rules that he is willing to sell if a suitable buyer can be found.

But a large share of the fans are demanding action now, as they dream of a time when their stabilised debts can be eradicated.

And Whitehead, referring to the disappointments on the field rather than in the boardroom, understands the feeling of unrest in the stands with their side propping up the Premiership with such an insignificant points total.

With 21 points to play for Sunderland, who have won just twice in the league all season, are nine points shy of the Premiership record low total (19) they went down with in 2003.

They are also on course to break the all-time top-flight low of 17 points set by Stoke City in 1985.

And Whitehead, suggesting it is up to the players to ensure supporters back them on the pitch, said: "I'm not going to say it's easy (playing in current atmosphere), because it hasn't been.

"The crowd want us to do well and they turn up in their thousands home and away.

"We've not performed as well as we can this season so they've got every right to complain.

"I knew when I came here it was a big place. You can't really compare it with Oxford, where I signed from, because the fan base here is so much bigger."

Privately there has been an acceptance for a while that Championship football beckons next season, although publicly it is only recently some that of the crop have admitted such.

But when relegation happens - and that will be this Saturday if they lose at Everton and West Brom beat Liverpool at the Hawthorns - Whitehead hopes the majority of the squad stay together.

The 24-year-old is one of those likely to be targeted by Premiership clubs next season after a bright start to life at the top level, although his form has dipped in recent months.

But Whitehead claims the only way Sunderland will stand a chance of going back up is if they stick together.

"Hopefully we can keep most of the squad," said the attacking midfielder. "We've got a very good team spirit and it's a very important thing at the moment when results are going against us. If we didn't stick together now we'd be getting hammered every game.

"There's no question about it, experience makes a big difference. We've been there and done it last season. Experience counts in whatever league you're playing in."

Whitehead was a firm favourite of Mick McCarthy's style of management, particularly as he was one the men plucked from lower league obscurity.

But, with McCarthy gone, he knows a permanent replacement needs to be installed during the summer with a long list of candidates mentioned for a job that remains one of the biggest in English football.

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball is still in the frame, despite losing his first three matches in charge, and Whitehead said: "We've got to keep focused and keep working as hard as we can.

"It's gone well since Kevin Ball's taken over. We've changed a few things in training and done a few different routines and it's been good.

"We worked with Steve Black, fitness coach, for the first time last week. It was just about getting confidence back into the players, confidence on the ball and that sort of thing."

And, on a personal note, Whitehead defended his own level of performance in recent months.

"People can say what they want to say about how I've been playing but I think I've been doing all right," he said. "The manager's been happy with me and he's the only person whose opinion I'm worried about.

"I haven't scored a league goal in 2006 but as a team we've struggled to score goals this year. Hopefully we can put that right before the end of the season. It's all down to confidence and confidence comes from winning games."

l Sunderland have reached an undisclosed settlement with former boss McCarthy.

The Yorkshireman parted company with the club on March 6 after three years in charge.

Agreement has also been reached with McCarthy's number two, Ian Evans, who initially remained on the books.

l Ex-Sunderland striker Andy Gray last night netted his second goal in as many games for Burnley

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