Sunderland is too big a club to drop down to England's second division says Dick Advocaat.
The former PSV, Rangers and Zenit Saint Petersburg boss has been tasked with the job of keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League following the sacking of Gus Poyet and he insists that the Wearside outfit cannot drop down to the Championship.
Advocaat said he spoke to the squad as a whole this week to chat about their survival plan which begins against West Ham United at Upton Park on Saturday.
"You can't throw everything in, but I have talked with some individuals and the team together. We had a team meeting," he told the club's official website.
"Keeping this team in the league is the most important thing. As I said to the players, it's quite simple. This is a big, big club - do you want to play in the other league?
"With this club, this stadium, you cannot play in the lower league. I think they realise how important it is."
