Sunderland boss Gus Poyet insists he is only the head coach at the club and not the manager after some recent criticism of his dealings in the transfer market.

Poyet was appointed in October 2013 after the north east side decided to give livewire Paolo Di Canio the boot.

The Uruguayan did the job he was required to do during his first campaign and kept the Black Cats in the Premier League with a late surge at the end of the term.

However, they have been unable to build on that this year and lie 15th in the Premier League.

Sunderland who are priced at 4.50 to be relegated added seven new players over the summer with the likes of Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez and Ricky Alverez all heading to the Stadium of Light.

The former Brighton boss has made no secret of his desire to strengthen further in January but insists that recruitment is not his responsibility with sporting director Lee Congerton already looking for options.

Poyet said: “I am a head coach.

“I am not going to be a head coach when it suits and a manager when it doesn’t. That side is down to recruitment.”

“You know what is missing. It is clear what we need to do. That is down to recruitment.

“So, if you ever get the chance to speak to anyone on the recruitment side and ask them about it, you are lucky. If you don’t, don’t ask me.”