David Moyes conceded Sunderland's relegation from the Premier League, confirmed by a 1-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday, represented his "worst day in football" but straight-batted questions about his future.
MORE: WATCH: Sunderland relegated after 10 years in Premier League |
Joshua King's 88th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win for Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light, ending Sunderland's 10-year stay in the top-flight in the process.
Moyes refused to apportion blame for the club's drop into the Championship and the disappointed Scot said it was too soon to decide if he would stay in charge for next season.
"To think about it and talk about it now is just too quick," Moyes said. "They're questions for a week or two down the line - I'm not sure it's for now. I'd like to make sure we get Sunderland back in the Premier League.
"I’m really disappointed. This is my worst day in football. I feel for the supporters. They put their heart and cash into the team and my thoughts are mainly with them.
"It’s a collective thing from top to bottom - it’s wrong to blame any individual. Clubs are much stronger than any one individual.
"I know what a Premier League team looks like, a Premier League squad looks like, and we have looked short of that bit of quality."
4 - No side has been relegated from the @premierleague on more occasions than Sunderland. Goners. pic.twitter.com/OGL9v42CTr
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 29, 2017
Sunderland have required miraculous comebacks to preserve their Premier League status in recent years but captain John O'Shea noted that an 11-game wait for their first win left them too much to do from the off.
"We have come back a few times with some great fightbacks but weren't able to do it this season," the Republic of Ireland international said. "We are obviously distraught and it's not a nice feeling.
"The league table never lies. Performances and results are the obvious thing that have brought us down. We haven't kept enough clean sheets as a team and needed another miracle run to save us but haven't been able to do it this season."
What a win! Can't beat a last minute goal and a clean sheet. Up the cherries
— Steve Cook (@SteveCook28) April 29, 2017
While defeat for Sunderland left the club's fans heartbroken, victory sent Bournemouth into the top half of the table and confirmed their Premier League survival, leaving manager Eddie Howe to hail his side's continued progress.
"It was a scrappy game from our perspective," Howe said. "I wasn't happy with the way we played but happy with the result.
"Josh King has worked incredibly hard and shows great attitude every day. Technically he is a great player and it is nice to see him score.
"The second season is harder, having gone through it. The first season is a novelty, in the second there is expectation. It's a real achievement to get 40 points."