“With our situation as it is right now, it was the right decision,” said the Dane.

“We need to get in a new man and start all over again, that is what the team needs right now.”

The 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday proved to be the final straw for Black Cats chairman Bob Murray, who axed Reid the following day.

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over, while George Graham and David O’Leary are now likely to be out of the running.

Sorensen, who is out for up to three months after dislocating his elbow against Arsenal, continued on www.onside.dk: “I always had a good relationship with Peter Reid but a new manager can wake up some players.

“You often see that a new face changes the motivation and therefore the results.

“It is clear that us players must deliver results on the pitch, but it’s not that simple.

“Our bad results are due to various reasons, but I won’t comment further.”