SAM ALLARDYCE was paraded in front of the media for the first time as Sunderland manager on Tuesday afternoon and revealed how Ellis Short convinced him the time was right to move to the Stadium of Light.

Short, the club’s American owner, has handed Allardyce a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light and set him the challenge of keeping Premier League football on Wearside.

Allardyce, who is closing in on a new No 2 with former Middlesbrough and Newcastle coach Steve Round the latest name to be mentioned, has spent the last couple of days familiarising himself with the new facilities at the club’s training ground.

And after initial reservations about ending his sabbatical after leaving West Ham at the end of the last season, the 60-year-old’s meeting with Short was the crucial factor in deciding to return to work in the North-East.

“In the end it was my conversation with Ellis in London that swung it,” said Allardyce. “After that discussion it was all about getting this club back on track and staying in the Premier League.

“Now it is about my relationship with him and working together to make that happen. We want to try to evolve the football club to get it out of this position, which is obviously not the first time for Sunderland.

“I could have waited longer for something else but coming back in now gives me better chances of being successful because there are 30 games left.”

Sunderland are five points adrift of safety after eight games and he knows all about the challenge facing him this season.

He said: “I experienced a very difficult period at Blackburn when I went in after 17 games in December, we only had 13 points at that stage and we didn’t get safe until one game to go, even though we had a very good run.

“This opportunity gives me a little longer to achieve what is the main goal and that is getting out of relegation trouble as quickly as possible. Then we can see what we can do.”

When Allardyce took over at Newcastle he had Round, who has also worked at Everton and Manchester United, alongside him. Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid and Allardyce’s long serving No 2 Neil McDonald, who is currently in charge at Blackpool, have also been linked.

The Sunderland boss said: “There has been some progress but there is nothing definite yet. When that changes I will announce it accordingly.”