SUNDERLAND will do everything they can to persuade an emotional Dick Advocaat to stay in charge beyond this season after he achieved his primary goal of keeping Premier League football at the Stadium of Light last night.

Advocaat struggled to hold back the tears at the Emirates Stadium after watching his players defend incredibly to record the point required against Arsenal to ensure top-flight status is secured for a further year.

The 67-year-old hugged every member of his backroom team and then those who had delivered the much-needed result before heading over to celebrate in front of the 1,900 travelling supporters all relieved that relegation had been avoided – again.

And Northern Echo Sport understands that Sunderland owner Ellis Short will do everything he can to try to keep Advocaat beyond his initial contract, which comes to an end after this Sunday’s final day trip to Chelsea.

But the former PSV Eindhoven and Rangers boss had promised his wife before his appointment that he will be heading for retirement after this season, so his mind might already be made up to call time on his illustrious career.

Asked what it would take for him to stay, Advocaat, who spoke to Short in the dressing room after the game, said: “I will give an answer on that next week.”

He added: “If you don't mind, I keep that to myself. I have to think about everything. If I stop, then it's the last job.”

After Sunderland had withstood a late onslaught from Arsenal as they searched for a winner and the whistle was blown by referee Anthony Taylor, Advocaat immediately embraced his long term friend and assistant Bert van Lingen.

The pair have enjoyed their time in the North-East and that was shown by the way a tearful Advocaat savoured the moment before joining in the celebrations on the pitch, knowing third from bottom Hull City can no longer overtake them.

He said: “We said straight from the beginning that it's not about me, it's about everybody involved, from the chairman to the people who work in the office, and the team.

“The easiest way to work with the team is by telling them what they have to do, and we started that from 'day one', and they believed in that. Nobody was expecting that we would do it here, against a great team on a great pitch.

“But if you can do it on your own, like we did, that gives me a special feeling. I’m not (often in tears after a game) but maybe this was a special reason.”

Sunderland, who have lost just two of the eight matches under him, can now plan for a ninth consecutive campaign in the Premier League.

In keeping them up, Advocaat is incredibly proud despite a CV boasting European and league titles.

He said: “Well nobody expected that. We had nine games, five away including Chelsea and Arsenal. Nobody expected us to do it, but the team did it, together.

“This is the moment for Sunderland FC to do something. You cannot buy for £40m eight players. You have to try to get more quality in your squad, more competition. That's how you make the team stronger.”

Sunderland dug deep to extend an unbeaten to five matches, with goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon making a number of saves and the whole team defending as a united unit.

Advocaat said: “It was the way they worked, organisation. The tactics. Before we started, they lost 4-0 at home and we started with a 1-0 defeat. But from the beginning I said we would stay up. If you believe in yourself, in your quality, you can do it.”

He added: “We have one owner but we don't have the money that the majority of clubs have. We have to be very proud of what he has done. He has spent millions on the team but the quality was not always there but hopefully he can now start with another set-up, bringing in fewer players but more quality.

“When Bert, for 25 years we've done everything together, he arrived on the pitch and started crying ... I don't need so much. He said 'let it go', so I said 'OK, why not'.”