Dick Advocaat has claimed that former side Sunderland might be better off dropping out of the Premier League this season in order to return to the top flight stronger.

The Black Cats have been in a constant cycle of relegation battles in recent seasons, including this time around as they find themselves bottom of the table after 11 games.

Following the club's worst-ever start to a league campaign, Advocaat - manager at the Stadium of Light for just seven months before departing last year - believes that Sunderland could take a lesson from rivals Newcastle United's book.

"Maybe it's better to go down, to build a new team like Newcastle who have a great club, a great fan base and a great stadium just like Sunderland," he is quoted as saying by the Sunderland Echo.

"Sunderland simply cannot go on this way because other clubs invest in the team, they spend money on good players and, if you don't do it, you are in trouble because there's too much quality elsewhere in the Premier League to expect to survive every year."

Sunderland recovered from a goal down to beat Bournemouth in their last outing prior to the international break, but they remain six points from safety following that maiden league win.