Michael Gray lays into seven Sunderland players he doesn’t want involved next season

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The former Sunderland left-back has slammed his old club’s recent recruitment.

Michael Gray in action for Sunderland against Newcastle

Michael Gray has laid into seven Sunderland players he does not want involved in next season’s Championship promotion push.

Sunderland were relegated with four games to spare on Saturday, a culmination of several years of poor recruitment at the Stadium of Light according to Gray.

“We brought in players that haven’t done it in the Premier League over the last five or six seasons, if they’ve had the opportunity,” the lifelong Sunderland fan, who won two promotions with the Mackems as a player, told Talksport on Wednesday afternoon.

“Steven Pienaar didn’t find a club; we bring him into Sunderland. He’s not good enough to get you out of the Championship, he’s a little bit too old now.

“There’s players like Seb Larsson; he’s been at the club too long. He’s been a great servant for the club but he’s not good enough any more.

“[Papy] Djilobodji; I’ll give him a piggy-back to wherever he wants to go. [Didier] N’Dong is another one. These are not the type of players that we need; players like Joleon Lescott. I’ve nothing against these players as people, but they’re not good enough to play for Sunderland.

Sunderland’s Papy Djilobodji (left) is said to have cost £8 million

“Jack Rodwell; it’s never happened for him for the last seven or eight seasons. [Adnan] Januzaj’s going to go back to Man United and wherever his future is I don’t know, but I hope it’s not at Sunderland because again he doesn’t look as if he’s interested in playing for the club.”

Sunderland are expected to sanction a mass exodus of players this summer, regardless of whether David Moyes stays on as manager, with star duo Jermain Defoe and Jordan Pickford also likely to depart.

Sunderland ‘keeper Jordan Pickford could remain in the Premier League

Despite his comments, there are still a handful of names Gray would be keen to keep hold of as the Mackems pursue and immediate return to the Premier League next season, with John O’Shea, Billy Jones, Lamine Kone, Jason Denayer, Javi Manquillo and Bryan Oviedo all namechecked by the 42-year-old.

Gray also admitted he would like to see one of Chris Coleman, Ryan Giggs or Roy Keane take charge of Sunderland if Moyes is given the axe.

Wales head coach Chris Coleman at Euro 2016