 In May 1987 , Smith was appointed manager at Sunderland , who had just been relegated into the Third Division for the first time in their history . York were unwilling to release him from his contract for less than £ 20 @,@ 000 compensation , and Sunderland would only go as far as pay £ 10 @,@ 000 . Smith agreed to a £ 40 @,@ 000 @-@ a @-@ year contract that meant if he failed to win promotion with Sunderland in his first season he would pay the extra £ 10 @,@ 000 compensation himself . He brought his York coaching staff with him : Viv Busby , Malcolm Crosby , and Roger Jones . He also signed former York player John MacPhail to shore up the defence , who captained the side and scored 16 goals ( including 10 penalties ) in his maiden season at Roker Park . He signed right @-@ back John Kay , whilst remaining satisfied with existing left @-@ back Reuben <unk> , centre @-@ back Gary Bennett and goalkeeper Iain <unk> . In midfield he played a youthful combination of Gordon Armstrong , Paul Lemon , Gary Owers and Paul Atkinson , alongside the more experienced defensive midfielder Steve Doyle . He sold Mark Proctor to Sheffield Wednesday for £ 275 @,@ 000 . He signed young and pacey York striker Marco Gabbiadini for £ 80 @,@ 000 and played him alongside the experienced Eric Gates ; the pair scored 42 goals between them in 1987 – 88 . A 7 – 0 win over Southend United started a run of 15 league games unbeaten , though in the second half of the campaign a run of just 2 wins in 10 games set them back . Smith bought Swansea City winger Colin Pascoe in March 1988 , and oversaw a run of seven wins in the final eight games to secure the Third Division championship and promotion with a record 101 points . 
