Simon Grayson shares how Sam Allardyce reacted when he told him he was taking the Sunderland job

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Sunderland have struggled since Simon Grayson took charge, and they currently sit in the bottom three in the Championship table.

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson has told the Northern Echo that Sam Allardyce and Martin O’Neill both spoke very positively about Sunderland, when he asked them about the club prior to taking the job.

Grayson left Preston North End to take the vacant managerial position at Sunderland last summer, but things have not gone according to plan.

Sunderland are currently in the relegation zone in the Championship, after winning just one of their opening nine league matches.

But Grayson insists that he has what it takes to wake Sunderland from their slumber and have them pushing up the table soon.

“I spoke to Sam Allardyce and Martin O’Neill about it, and they were very positive,” Grayson said.

“Although they obviously know what it’s like to work here and the downside to it as well.

“I’m a positive person, and my glass is always half full. My attitude is that I will get the club moving in the right direction again – that’s why I took the job on. I could have stayed at Preston after four-and-a-half years, but I came here because I wanted a big challenge.”

Grayson certainly has got the challenge that he wanted by moving to Sunderland, and he needs to change the mentality at the club.

Sunderland have got used to losing over the last two seasons, and confidence appears to be low around the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats are next in action later this evening, when they take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

If Sunderland are able to win the fixture, they could move up into 17th place in the Championship table.