Former Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat says relegation from the Premeier League might allow the Black Cats to overhaul their squad and come back stronger.
The Dutchman, who saved Sunderland from the drop in 2014-15, compared the situation with local rivals Newcastle, who are thriving under Rafa Benitez despite demotion in May.
"Maybe it's better to go down, to build a new team like Newcastle who have a great club, a great fan-base and a great stadium just like Sunderland," Advocaat is quoted as saying in the Mirror.
"Sunderland simply cannot go on this way because other clubs invest in the team, they spend money on good players and, if you don't do it, you are in trouble because there's too much quality elsewhere in the Premier League to expect to survive every year.