Sunderland boss decides to stay after chairman Ellis Short agrees to strengthen the squad

Dick Advocaat is staying at Sunderland after Ellis Short allowed him to strengthen the squad

DICK ADVOCAAT is staying at Sunderland after convincing chairman Ellis Short to strengthen his squad.

 

Swedish international Ola Toivonen has joined on a season-long loan from Rennes and will be on the bench at Aston Villa today.

And Advocaat is hopeful of two more recruits in the next 72 hours.

 

Just six days after hinting he would quit, Advocaat insisted yesterday he would definitely be staying.

"I was never thinking of leaving this club," he said

 

"I hope I can stay until the end of the season. This is a great club. I have been at many great clubs but this is a really special one."

He would not deny that by previously refusing to give assurances about his own future, he had created an air of uncertainty, which ultimately worked to his own advantage.

Villa are close to sealing a deal for West Brom defender Joleon Lescott.