IT was interesting to see Sunderland turn down the chance of a civic reception and open-top bus to celebrate their promotion to the Premiership.It may be a shame for the Mackem fans, but it also sends out a bit of message to the clubs in the top flight that Roy Keane is on a mission.

IT was interesting to see Sunderland turn down the chance of a civic reception and open-top bus to celebrate their promotion to the Premiership.

It may be a shame for the Mackem fans, but it also sends out a bit of message to the clubs in the top flight that Roy Keane is on a mission.

They are clearly not content with just getting there, or merely surviving next season - they want to shake up the big boys.

Steve Coppell's Reading have done it this year, just as Ipswich Town did in 2000/2001, and it will be fun to watch how the Black Cats progress.

The last time they went up, under Mick McCarthy, they did the whole celebration thing and promptly dropped like a stone with a record low number of points.

IN response to Chatter reader Chris Ternan's suggestion in Tuesday's column, Jim Magilton is not going to try the cheeky little stunt of naming himself among the subs as a way around his touchline ban.

Although he thought it was a good idea, with his personal assistant Clair, egging him on, the Irishman decided against it.

Perhaps his run out in Peter Rhoades-Brown's testimonial at Oxford United, alongside the likes of Steve McClaren and Steve Clarke, had a bearing on his decision - after all he might have had to actually go on and play at Portman Road.

WORD reaches me that George Burley and sidekick Simon Hunt have had a falling out at Southampton.

Apparently Hunt wanted an increased coaching role while Burley suggested he stuck to the scouting, and a parting of the ways in the summer looks likely.

The buzz doing the rounds within the game is that Hunt will emerge at West Brom, possibly as a director of football.

That could be especially interesting as the two sides are likely to meet in the upcoming play-offs.

IT will be the end of an era tomorrow when Wendy Sturmey hangs up her apron at the Ipswich Town training ground.

As a special honour Wendy will be walking out with the team at Portman Road on Sunday, if nerves don't get to her first and she stops at pitch-side.

Famed for her flapjacks, the lady of a certain age will also be missed by generations of Blues players who have lodged with her over the years, and the Chatter joins everyone connected with the club at wishing her a happy retirement.

IT looks like Steve Evans will become the new manager at Chester City, working with chairman Stephen Vaughan. Given both men's colourful past, they will no doubt get on famously.

Congratulations to Lisa Harlings, of Bramford, for winning the final pair of tickets up for grab this season. She knew that Simon Walton has played for both Ipswich and Cardiff on loan this season and gets to see Sunday's season-closer.