Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell is not letting off-field transfer disputes worry him.

Manager Dick Advocaat is reportedly at loggerheads with club owner Ellis Short over the transfer budget at his disposal, but Rodwell insists the squad is concentrating on upcoming games instead of focusing on things out of their control.

"It's all above our heads really," said the midfielder.

"The transfer deadline can be a distraction if you allow it to be but for us, we've got so much to focus on in terms of games coming up and what we have to improve on, that I really don't think it is concerning us.

"It's at board level and they'll decide what happens, nothing to do with the players."