Dwight Yorke has insisted that a return to the
Championship is just not an option for Sunderland.
Yorke, 36, played a pivotal role as he helped to guide the Black
Cats to the Championship title last season, which saw them return
to the top flight at the first time of asking.
They invested around £36million during the summer as they headed
back to the Premier League determined to prove their worth but now
find themselves in the drop zone with 15 games left this
season.
Sunderland are only below Wigan and Birmingham on goal difference
so the situation is manageable and Yorke is adamant he does not
want to be making a swift return to the Championship.
No
Disrespect
"I just hope the lads realise it doesn't get much better than
this," the former Manchester United star said.
"We all experienced last year and it was great. But you don't
really want to be playing there - you don't really want to be going
to Colchester.
"No disrespect to those teams, but you want to be going to
Tottenham, Manchester United and those teams.
Opportunity
"The lads have got an opportunity to put it right. We have got 15
games to make sure we get it right, or else.
"They know what the consequences are, and even at my age - I am at
the end of my career - and I don't want to go back there.
"These guys have got their futures ahead of them - and I am sure
the manager doesn't want to go back there, I know that for a
fact.
"That's the reality - we have got 15 games to try to put it right,
and we all have to be in it to make sure we do that."