By Colin Young
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Gus Poyet has pledged to keep Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League after being appointed as the bottom club's new manager.
The Uruguayan, who was dismissed by Brighton at the end of last season, replaces Paolo Di Canio after the Italian was sacked after a player revolt.
Caretaker boss Kevin Ball oversaw league defeats by Liverpool and Manchester United but Poyet is confident he can turn the club's fortunes around.
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New man: Gus Poyet has been named the new Sunderland manager, taking over from Paolo Di Canio
'I have been trying to get ready and make sure I was doing my homework because the invitation was coming,' he said. 'They went through the process and I waited for the chairman to make the decision then embrace it and do the right thing.
'I'm delighted to be here, it is going to be difficult and a challenge.
'Kevin Ball did an excellent job but it shows our problem and we need to do something different.
'I need to make plenty of decisions. The best managers make the most good decisions then you can judge me. Time will tell but I am convinced we have a chance of staying in the Premier League and now it is up to make sure players embrace this philosophy and way of playing football.
'There is plenty of different type of players experienced and young players so options everywhere on the pitch and need to make sure they play in the right way. They need to open up their minds and really try to understand me and sooner we are connected it will be easier.
'The reason we are bottom is because not everything is right. It is common sense but we need to not concede goals and score a few right now we are conceding too many. To concede three goals in the Premier League you have little chance of winning games.'
Talking a good game: Poyet discusses his appointment at the Stadium of Light with journalists
New home: Poyet is confident he can save Sunderland from the drop despite their poor start to the season
Poyet will bring his own coaching staff with him to Sunderland – the fifth group of coaches the players have worked with in less than two years.
And Mauricio Taricco and Charlie Oatway, two of the central figures in Poogate – the controversial incident at the centre of their departure from Brighton – are on their way to the North East too.
Poyet's trusty assistant Taricco received the first call from his old friend to move up to Wearside.
The pair met at Tottenham, where Argentine defender Taricco made more than 150 appearances before he was signed on a free transfer by West Ham – then managed by one Alan Pardew. He joined Poyet as his assistant when he took over there four years ago.
Taricco actually played two games for Brighton in an emergency, once making an appearance in an FA Cup tie against Woking, before coming out of retirement to play Birmingham City. He was sent off on both occasions.
Renowned as a no-nonsense defender, Taricco also has a confrontational manner in the dug-out where he will be joined by first team coach Charlie Oatway.
Former Brighton stalwart Oatway joined the Poyet coaching team after playing for more than eight years at the south coast club.
Fresh start: Poyet was sacked as manager of Championship side Brighton last season
As all Seagulls fans know, the most unusual thing about Oatway is that his name is not actually Charlie. His full name is Anthony Philip David Terry Frank Donald Stanley Gerry Gordon Stephen James Oatway.
He said: 'I'm named after the QPR 1972-73 promotion-winning team for those of you that have been on the moon all the time I've been at Brighton.'
The arrival of the new coaching trio means Kevin Ball returns to his duties as Under 21 manager and coach, with his own assistant Robbie Stockdale. The pair have been in charge for the last fortnight and will remain in charge of the reserves team.
Paolo Di Canio's coaching staff were all removed from their duties when the Italian was sacked. Di Canio employed Fabrizio Piccareta as first team coach, and his chief punchbag during matches. He also had goalkeeping coach Domenico Doardo, fitness coach Claudio Donatelli and masseur Giulio Viscardi.
They had replaced Martin O'Neill's backroom team of Steve Walford and Seamus McDonough who in turn had replaced Steve Bruce and his team of Eric Black, Keith Bertschin and Nigel Spink when they left in November 2011.
Sydneysider, In the land downunder, Australia, 5 hours ago
lambrettasx200, Maidenhead, United Kingdom, 7 hours ago I am North East born & bred but have lived down south for 50 years & wonder why the 3 big clubs up there ie the boro, mackems & newcastle are all in self destruct mode. They have huge, loyal support but they have become laughing stock. In fact I wonder in a few years if we will have a NE team in the Premier league. The best answer for Sunderland would have been to bring back Peter Reid with Bally as his assistant & to eventually take over, >>>>>>I can't agree with you about the Toon....we have our problems but the passion outweighs them. We are survivors and Ashley will come thru in the end. We may not like him but he's a savvy businessman.