Sbragia - Stars not for sale

Coach will not allow "better players" to leave in January

Last updated: 5th January 2009

Sbragia - Stars not for sale

Sbragia: Looking to strengthen

The one thing we don't want to do is get rid of our better players.

Ricky Sbragia
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Ricky Sbragia is determined to see Sunderland improve their roster in the January transfer window.

Full-back Pascal Chimbonda and striker El-Hadji Diouf have both been linked with moves away from the Stadium of Light, but Sbragia is keen to retain the services of his key players.

And although the Scottish tactician does appear prepared to lighten the load in other areas, he is resolute any changes must be to the benefit of the club.

"We have got a big squad - we have got something like 37 pros," he said. "We have a big squad, so it is very difficult to manage and keep them all happy.

"But the one thing we don't want to do is get rid of our better players."

One area Sbragia does need to strengthen is his backroom staff and he admits there could be some big changes on that front.

"The workload on [first-team coach] Neil Bailey and I has got greater so we are going to have another chat about Neil's position as well at the club," Sbragia added.

"In general, there's a possibility that we will promote within for the short-term and see how that goes."

The Black Cats get back to the business of preserving their Premier League status on Saturday with a tough looking trip away to relegation rivals Middlesbrough.