Why should he be loyal to Sunderland though? He was behind Keane for the job, only on a rolling contact and did what he was asked to do by sealing their promotion and getting them off to a good start in the Championship.
I can’t believe Stoke saw Neil as a better bet than Sean Dyche to be honest. He did a great job at Sunderland Neil, and I think he’ll have a long if nomadic managerial career. I wouldn’t be gutted if he ended up here at some point. But he’s not got Dyche’s record. Either Dyche priced himself out or ruled himself out of Stoke; the Coates’ would have had interest you have to think. He’ll be in work before Christmas will Dyche - wouldn’t be amazed to see Lampard sacked and him tip up at Everton.