Sunderland caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia insists he is happy to take some playful abuse from his players.
Black Cats caretaker boss enjoying his spell in charge
Sunderland caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia has revealed that he is more than happy to take some playful abuse from his players.
Under the rule of former manager Roy Keane, the Black Cats players had to watch their every step and there were even reports of celebration upon his resignation earlier in the month.
But with Sbragia now in charge the atmosphere around the club has completely changed, so much so that the players are beginning to take liberties with their new boss that would probably have seen them severely disciplined under the old regime.
"They're always taking the mick out of me - they call me 'the wig' because of my hair," admitted the Scot.
"And Anton Ferdinand's giving it the 'gaffer' thing which I don't want to hear, but they still keep calling me that because they know I hate it.
"I told them to just call me Ricky - it's not a problem!"
A fine line
Sbragia insists that all the jokes at his expense are a welcome source of enjoyment for the players and that the light-hearted atmosphere of the training ground is the only place he would want to be.
"I've never wanted to be a manager, just a coach, because I love being on the training pitch with the players and I enjoy the craic," he added.
"The lads know when we're being serious and when we're not and there's a fine line. They are responsive."
