Sunderland fans raise £1,300 to buy flowers for Dick Advocaat's wife

Dick Advocaat will manage Sunderland for another year Credit: Richard Sellers / PA Wire

Grateful Sunderland fans have raised £1,300 to buy flowers for their manager's wife - after he returned to the club with her permission.

Dick Advocaat, who steered the club to premier league safety this season, had been planning to retire from football at his wife's request.

However, two weeks after saying he'd leave the Stadium of Light for good, Advocaat announced a change of heart, delighting fans with the news that he'd stay in England for another year, rather than returning to Holland.

An online collection was set up at gofundme.com, reaching more than £1,300 in seven hours.

Users of the Sunderland Message Board say they set it up "to give Mrs Advocaat a big thank you for giving us another year of the little general!"

Fans have decided that anything over £150 will be split between the SAFC Foundation and a charity of Mrs Advocaat's choice.