Roker Roundup: Poyet lands manager’s job in South America while January target pens new deal

Poyet heads to Chile

Former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has been appointed head coach of Chilean club Universidad Catolica for the 2021 season.

The club announced Poyet’s arrival on their official website and the Uruguayan replaces Ariel Holan, who departed UC earlier in the month to take over at Brazilian giants Santos.

Juan Tagle, club president, was very happy to announce his club had reached an agreement with such a well-travelled coach and is confident Poyet will be a success in Chile:

We are very happy to have reached an agreement with a technician with the trajectory of Gustavo. As a club we have made the effort to have coaches with an important journey and who can give a plus to a team that has just been three-time champion and be a contribution to our league.

We believe that he has the capacity to do it and to be successful in the challenges that come locally and internationally.

One of the players at his new club will be one time Sunderland target Diego Buonanotte - the playmaker failed to make a move to England after being involved in a fatal car crash at the time of the rumours in 2009.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Target signs new deal

Sunderland were linked with a move for Hibernian left-back Josh Doig in the January transfer window, with the Daily Record claiming that the club were watching him closely.

Lee Johnson instead signed Southampton youngster Jake Vokins on loan near the end of the window and now Doig has signed a new long-term deal at Easter Road.

The 18-year-old has signed a deal that will keep him at Jack Ross’s Hibs until 2025 and speaking to the club website, Doig said he was grateful for the faith the club have shown in him:

I’m grateful for the new contract and the club’s faith in me.

This season’s gone better than I could have hoped for and it doesn’t seem that long ago that my family were with me at the training ground to sign my first professional contract.

I owe the gaffer, the backroom staff and my team-mates a lot for giving me the opportunity to do what I love and for helping me whenever I’ve needed it.

I’ve said it often enough, but I get unbelievable support from the senior players here. A young player couldn’t wish to be in a better dressing-room.

I said when I signed the first professional contract that it was an important step, but it was only one step and the same applies to this one.

I know what I want to improve on, and I want to do whatever it takes to stay in the team and make sure we have a strong finish to the season.

I’ve still not really had the chance to play in front of a full Easter Road or experience European football. If we were able to do both next season it would be another dream come true.

Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images