Boss happy to go along with nickname

Wilkinson is not struck on being compared with the TV comedy character Sergeant Bilko but says he is willing to suffer it to keep morale going at The Stadium of Light.

Wilkinson admitted: "I dislike 'Sergeant Wilko' because it's a stereotype. But chants of 'Sergeant Wilko's Red and White Army' help the players, so it's worth me having the nickname.

"It was something I got at Leeds after someone started selling blow-up gloves with my face on a picture of Sergeant Bilko.

"It was used to sum up my management style as rigid and military, which is ironic if you know either me or Sergeant Bilko!"

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