Sunderland's scouting staff served notice

Sunderland's scouting staff, headed by the club's former forward Bryan "Pop" Robson, have been given notification of potential redundancy and are set to be sacked from their positions.

A new recruitment team will be put in place for the summer, with the club ready to change the policy of the former manager Martin O'Neill of buying established players in England for sizeable transfer fees. Sunderland's owner, Ellis Short, wants to hire a director of football and manager Paolo Di Canio will also have a say.

Sunderland appealed against the red card Stéphane Sessègnon was shown in the 6-1 efeat at Aston Villa on Monday.