O'Neill not singing in the rain

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill was a disappointed man after the Wearside weather literally rained on his parade.

On the day the Black Cats had intended to introduce big-money signings Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher to the fans ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash with Reading, torrential rain at the Stadium of Light forced a rare August postponement.

O'Neill, who sealed a double swoop which cost owner and chairman Ellis Short in excess of £20million on Friday, said: "On behalf of the football club, I am really, really disappointed. I'm sorry and I have to apologise. There's been a lot of rain on the pitch - I know it's a new pitch - I haven't got to the bottom of it yet at the moment."

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