Get the latest SAFC transfer news straight to your inbox by signing up to our FREE newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Sunderland manager Chris Coleman insists he has no regrets over his decision to leave Wales to join the Black Cats.

Many eyebrows were raised throughout football when Coleman stepped down from his role as the national team manager in his home country to take the reigns at the Stadium of Light.

Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Bolton left Sunderland bottom of the Championship table with just 13 games to go.

But Coleman will look to use his experience of battling through adversity in his bid to steer the club to safety.

“I am not sorry I joined Sunderland football club,” he said in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game with Middlesbrough.

(Image: Sunderland AFC)

“I always thought my experience, however long it’s going to be here - a year, two years, three years, you know what management is like - would make me better.

“The situation I’m in now is super tough, of course it is, but it will still make me better.

“Anything I have ever achieved, I have generally had to suffer and make sacrifices for it, and come through hard times.

“We’re in hard times now - we’ve been written off, we’re a ‘hopeless’ case. Fine. Good. Let’s see if we can come through that adversity.”

Sunderland look up at the rest of the league from bottom spot going into the weekend’s games, and while Coleman won’t hide away from the difficulties of their situation, he insists a negative attitude won’t get him anywhere.

And he has urged his players to adopt a similarly positive outlook.

“It’s tough, but we’ve been in the bottom three for some time,” he added.

poll loading Sunderland vs Middlesbrough - predict the outcome 500+ VOTES SO FAR Sunderland win Draw Middlesbrough win

“Now we’re rock bottom, but if we let everybody dictate to us how we feel, then we’re weak - all of us.

“It’s up to us, no matter what has been said about me, the team, whatever, outside of our group.

“People can say what they like - they’re entitled to their opinion - but within our group it’s up to us to maintain a certain type of thinking.

“We’ve got no choice but to meet what’s in front of us.

“What are the choices? We can’t sit round with gloomy faces and ‘woe is me’. There are enough people doing that for us so we need to stay positive, keep a fighting spirit - I thought we had that on Tuesday night (at Bolton) and it must continue.”