David Moyes: I’m not worried despite my poor start at Sunderland

DAVID MOYES is confident he’ll survive as Sunderland boss.

Moyes claims that despite being bottom and without a win in the Premier League season, he still retains the support of owner Ellis Short.

The pair spoke on Thursday night and Moyes believes Short, who has a reputation as one of the more trigger-happy chairmen around, is not losing faith in him.

Nor did he get the impression that the billionaire is looking to sell the club he bought from Niall Quinn and his Irish consortium eight years ago.

Asked if Short is sympathetic to the plight Moyes finds himself in – his squad has been ravaged by injuries for most of the season – he said: “Very much so.

“It’s not begun the way I wanted it to but I have got to say that in my conversations with him, I have not sensed anything.

“I spoke to him last night and about a week or so ago. We are in conversation.”

As for talk of a change of ownership, Moyes added: “He has not once said anything to me about a takeover or anything.”

Sunderland travel to West Ham today knowing even victory won’t be enough to lift them off the foot of the table.

Both Moyes and his chief executive Martin Bain have talked this week about finding a new stable identity for a club which has survived by the skin of it teeth in each of the past four years.

“At this moment, I’m only looking to stay in the Premier League,” said Moyes.

“There may come a point later on when I have to change my view but right now, that’s what I’m focused on.

“I said when I came in, I don’t want to be celebrating staying up but that’s where it is at the moment.

“Everyone wants a quick fix and everybody who has come here has fire-fighted. I am doing that but I have to look at it more long term as well.

“That is why the idea of bringing in some younger players is not necessarily a case of what can we do to stay up but can we get a couple of players who can go the journey?

“I am trying to stay in the Premier League so I need to build but I also need to rebuild the team.

“Martin Bain is great for me. Behind the scenes, he is trying to shape things and it’s good to have his support but I would never take it for granted.”