[h=3]Former star raises doubts about Poyet appointment[/h]6:00am Tuesday 8th October 2013 in Albion Exclusive By Andy Naylor
Gus Poyet. John Byrne is not convinced the ex-Albion boss is the right man for Sunderland.
* Gus Poyet's appointment as Sunderland manager has been questioned by John Byrne.
* The former Albion and Sunderland striker is unsure whether Poyet is the right man to keep the rock-bottom Black Cats in the Premier League.
* Poyet, axed by the Seagulls in June for gross misconduct, is taking over at the Stadium of Light on a three-year contract following the recent sacking of Paolo Di Canio.
* Byrne told The Argus: "You have got to give him credit for the job he did at Brighton. He got them out of the lower reaches of League One, built a decent side and got them playing, but this is a different ball game now.
* "He can attract decent players. He's got a name in the game. He's well respected as a player, he was a great player.
* "Whether he is a firefighter who can go in there and turn things around, that is a test for him. I don't think even he knows the answer to that one, because he has never really managed at that level yet."
* Byrne, who played for Sunderland in the 1992 FA Cup final, expected them to plump for one of former Spurs No. 2 Poyet's old Chelsea team-mates.
* He said: "When I have spoken to people up in the North-East I've said to them it does surprise me, because he didn't leave Brighton in the greatest of circumstances. There is just a question mark. After Di Canio I thought they would go for a calmer, more sensible approach.
* "Someone like (Gianfranco) Zola, who is not particularly controversial, or (Roberto) Di Matteo. Gus Poyet is still in dispute with his old club. He didn't leave on particularly good terms, but he has obviously gone in there and explained the situation to them and they have accepted it.
* "Surely Sunderland are not daft enough to give someone a job without speaking to his previous employers?"
*
Original article
* Gus Poyet's appointment as Sunderland manager has been questioned by John Byrne.
* The former Albion and Sunderland striker is unsure whether Poyet is the right man to keep the rock-bottom Black Cats in the Premier League.
* Poyet, axed by the Seagulls in June for gross misconduct, is taking over at the Stadium of Light on a three-year contract following the recent sacking of Paolo Di Canio.
* Byrne told The Argus: "You have got to give him credit for the job he did at Brighton. He got them out of the lower reaches of League One, built a decent side and got them playing, but this is a different ball game now.
* "He can attract decent players. He's got a name in the game. He's well respected as a player, he was a great player.
* "Whether he is a firefighter who can go in there and turn things around, that is a test for him. I don't think even he knows the answer to that one, because he has never really managed at that level yet."
* Byrne, who played for Sunderland in the 1992 FA Cup final, expected them to plump for one of former Spurs No. 2 Poyet's old Chelsea team-mates.
* He said: "When I have spoken to people up in the North-East I've said to them it does surprise me, because he didn't leave Brighton in the greatest of circumstances. There is just a question mark. After Di Canio I thought they would go for a calmer, more sensible approach.
* "Someone like (Gianfranco) Zola, who is not particularly controversial, or (Roberto) Di Matteo. Gus Poyet is still in dispute with his old club. He didn't leave on particularly good terms, but he has obviously gone in there and explained the situation to them and they have accepted it.
* "Surely Sunderland are not daft enough to give someone a job without speaking to his previous employers?"
*
Original article