Sunderland's players a suffering a confidence crisis according to Niall Quinn.

The Black Cats sit second bottom on the Premier League table with just three points from their opening eight matches and former striker and chairman Quinn believes the playing group is in a very bad way.

"These players are in a bad way. Their confidence is shattered. It's been negative, negative, negative for so many years now," he told Sky Sports.

"It just needs somebody to take all that away, lift them, and then you'll see the best of them. We'll see the best of the new players, like Younes Kaboul. They're beleaguered as things are and can't give their best.

"Managers improve players. When you have a manager you know you're going to do well for, who really motivates you, you play better."

Sunderland are on the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Dick Advocaat on the weekend.