SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid is determined to savour his side's Division 1 title triumph before looking ahead to a busy summer in the transfer market.

Reid has barely had time to draw breath since Sunderland gained promotion to the Premiership with their 5-2 romp at Bury on Tuesday night.

Already he has been linked with a number of players seen as the key to Sunderland's bid of avoiding another quick-fire return to the Nationwide League like that of two years ago.

And after beating Barnsley 3-1 last night to clinch the title crown in style, Reid was eager to give the players still at the club the plaudits rather than think about those he might be signing.

Goals from Nicky Summerbee, Lee Clark and Kevin Phillips, with his 23rd of the season despite four months out with a toe injury, saw the Wearsiders extend their unbeaten league run to 14 matches.

"We've got a party tonight which we are going to enjoy," said Reid. "Then we start again with three games to go. "I've got some outstanding players in the squad and I'm not daft - I will be looking to strengthen it.

"But I'm not going to talk about it yet because this is the time to give credit to those players, who have been absolutely brilliant all season."

OXFORD United were taking more than 2,000 fans to today's crunch Division 1 relegation clash at Port Vale after the Oxford Mail, Thames Valley FM and the club's new owner Firoz Kassam subsidised coach travel to Vale Park.

Story date: Saturday 17 April

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