O’Neill ‘excited’ after signing three-year deal

Martin O’Neill has pledged to do his “utmost to bring a bit of success to Sunderland”.

O’Neill signed a three-year deal yesterday to succeed Steve Bruce at the Stadium of Light and was in the stands as the Black Cats went down 2-1 to Wolves at Molineux.

The former Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa manager is excited to be back in the game after a year’s absence, but refused to make any outlandish promises.

“It’s a nice feeling to be back in football and I’m very excited about joining Sunderland,” he told SAFC TV. “It’s a big moment and I’m hoping it works out well. Naturally I want to do well for the fans, the team and myself. If we can combine all this and start winning football matches it would be terrific.

“Without promising the earth, moon and stars I will do my utmost to bring a bit of success to Sunderland.”

O’Neill grew up a Sunderland fan in Northern Ireland due to his admiration for Cork-born great Charlie Hurley. “You were either Celtic or Rangers, but most of the boys took an English team too,” he said. “Much to the laughing of one or two who took Manchester United and teams like that, I took Sunderland, with Charlie Hurley (being there). I never regretted it. I had a number of fights in the quad with other schoolboys about my choice, but outside that, not a problem.”

O’Neill takes over today and will be on the bench for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn.