Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has promised to give the club's supporters a team that they can be proud of.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss admitted that the passion of the Black Cats' fans was one of the factors that drew him to the Stadium of Light.

"Looking at Sunderland from afar, the first thing that came into my head was the fans - they are mad about football and they will die for the club. We need to give them something," The Mirror quotes him as saying.

"I can't promise a cup or a trophy, because it would be silly to promise, but we will try. We will ensure that they feel proud of the team.

"They go to the ground to see something nice. They pay for the tickets and need to see something. We need to make sure we give them everything."

Poyet's first game in charge of Sunderland will be the away trip to Swansea City on October 19.