Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill admits he and owner Ellis Short have a balancing act to satisfy in order to strengthen the squad. "In my conversations with him (Short), I can definitely feel his passion for the club," O'Neill told the Sunderland Echo.

"He tries to say things sometimes in an understated fashion, and that's fine, but I know that deep down he definitely cares about the football club.

"He bought the football club with the best intentions, he wants to try to move it forward, but it is sometimes easier said than done.

"I don't think any of us want to fall into the trap of financial disaster. So it is a balancing act. It always is with Premier League teams.

"I think the supporters have a fair idea of what we need to do to try to improve our team."

Meanwhile O'Neill is looking ahead to his first full season in charge at the Stadium of Light.

"The supporters have been very generous to me. They have given me time - although that doesn't mean that we haven't been booed off the pitch a few times!" O'Neill added.

"But I think that's a natural reaction sometimes. Most of the time, if we have (been booed), we have deserved it.

"What you can gauge from that is that they are passionate, they want to see their team do well, and they want to see us competing.

"I think that they want to see players parading their skills and giving them something to cheer.

"I'm looking forward to next season, even now. I think we will all come back refreshed and ready for it."

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