Former Sunderland boss Alan Durban is critical of the club's market work.

Sunderland lost again yesterday at Manchester United.

Durban told the Daily Star: "Sunderland have bought badly. Anyone who saw Younes Kaboul play last year would never have signed him.

"But who knows whose idea it was to bring him in? Who is behind all these signings?

"I'm not sure it's Dick. I don't think he would have known enough about the British-based players.

"Jermain Defoe has been disappointing and they are struggling in defence as Wes Brown and John O'Shea have not been at their best for a long time.

"Letting director Niall Quinn leave was a mistake. He would have had more idea about the recruitment side of things."