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Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid - who twice won the Black Cats promotion into the Premier League - has been looking back on taking charge of the club 30 years ago.

The ex-Everton and Manchester City player took the reigns in March 1995 with Sunderland battling relegation in the second tier, but with seven games of the season remaining, Reid oversaw just the one loss and managed to keep them up.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle in a special episode, Reid recalled: "They were great games, the Sheffield United one was a very important one and I always thank Craig [Russell] for coming on as a sub and getting the winner," Reid said.

"To be fair, the crowd played their part and obviously the players, the players were magnificent. I think we went to Derby and beat them as well which was a fantastic result.

"After the Sheffield United game, I going to the chairman and saying 'listen I need to get something for the players so give me £500 to take them out' and the bill came to about £1200 so I had to find £700 from somewhere.

"So I was fining the lads for mis-ing the ball in training and everything and once I got the £700 I told them 'it's over now lads' and I told them the story and they took it all in the spirit that it was meant."

Nottingham Forest are rivalling Leeds and Sunderland for 31-year-old Mozambique left-back Reinildo Mandava, who is out of contract with Atletico Madrid this summer. (Teamtalk), external

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Former Sunderland player Darren Williams has itted he was hopeful that Jobe Bellingham would stay at the club after the play-off final.

Bellingham has ed Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of £27m, and will be involved in the Club World Cup squad for his new side.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Williams said that while he wishes Bellingham all the best in , it would have been good to see him play in the Premier League.

He said: "We brought him in at a low cost and two years later we're making a good amount on him - [but] I'd have love to see him play for us in the Premier League and test himself.

"I've got no qualms - he's been brilliant. He's achieved something with Sunderland. I was hopeful after the final that he would stay, and then the news came about interest from .

"I wish him all the best. It's fantastic money. The club has made good money from the last four players sold."

Listen to the full clip on BBC Sounds here

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Throughout Wednesday, we have been revealing who Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini believes are the club's most skilful players ever.

And finally we have reached top spot.

He awards first place to Eric Gates, with whom he forged a formidable strike partnership dubbed the G-force during their time together in the 1980s.

While his time with the club did include a relegation, Gates is still considered one of the cleverest forwards of his time.

"I can watching Eric when I wasa kid at a caravan on a black-and-white TV," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle. "I was watching him play European football matches [for Ipswich], and then I got to play with him a few years later.

"In an era when pitches weren't great, he wasn't a silky winger, but he had a really clever, deft touch in the way that he played.

"Every time he got the ball, he was always looking to play through people and around people. Defenders didn't know whether he was going to keep it or lay it off, which was also a great skill. He would flick it with his first touch around the corner."

So, there it is, the top five most skilful players in Sunderland's history, according to Gabbiadini.

1. Eric Gates

2. Sebastian Larsson

3. Stephane Sessegnon

4. Michael Bridges

5. Billy Hughes

How would you rank these five? Have a go over here

And who did Gabbiadini miss out? Tell us here

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Throughout Wednesday, we have been revealing who Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini believes to be the club's most skilful players ever.

Just missing out on top spot is Sweden midfielder Sebastian Larsson.

Larsson played in the Stadium of Light for six years and earned the reputation of being dependable whilst being lethal from set-pieces. His work ethic, delivery, tactical and positional intelligence were considered amongst the best in the league during his time.

Speaking on BBC Radio, Gabbiadini expanded more on this and praised him as a player who could change the game in an instant.

"Seb Larsson was a quality player and he had that ability to have a magic moment and just see a really good . He scored a number of free-kicks as well. When he connected correctly, they were lovely goals.

"I think he was a player that the fans liked, and when he got the ball, he always used it in a clever way. He could see a and open up a game. He's one who's up there."

Worked out who the winner is yet? Come back later on Wednesday to find out.

Or listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

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Throughout Wednesday, we are revealing who Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini believes are the club's most skilful players ever.

Up next in third place is Stephane Sessegnon.

Sessegnon made almost 100 appearances for the Black Cats during his two-and-a-half-year stint at the club after g from Paris St-Germain in 2011. During that time, he played under three different managers and scored 18 goals.

His spell at Sunderland came to an end following a dispute with then-manager Paulo Di Canio.

Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle that Sessegnon was inconsistent but had the ability to get the ers on the edge of their seats.

"He was an enigma - some days he could be quiet," Gabbiadini recalled. "I was a little bit down on him as consistency-wise and team-player-wise, I think he lacked a little bit. But he had the ability to have those moments where you went: 'Wow, how does he do that">