Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand knows that each player will have to prove himself all over again to a new manager following Roy Keane's abrupt departure. "As fast as you come in the door, you can leave just as quickly," insisted the 23-year-old.

"But the boys have got a lot of pride in themselves, which we showed at the weekend.

"None of the boys want to give up that shirt, none of the boys want to leave the club, if they wanted to, their attitude wouldn't have been spot on at the weekend."

Despite Keane walking away Ferdinand insists that the players should take their share of the blame for the club's current predicament.

He added: "It is not always down to the manager, it is down to the players. We have got to stick together now more than ever.

"As a group of players we have to stick together whether there is a manager here or not. We have got to show that grit and determination.

"We are full of big characters in the dressing room and we are coping very well."