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Mick on his way?

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Rumours are rife that Mick McCarthy may not last the day as Sunderland manager.

The former Ireland boss has come to loggerheads with chairman Bob Murray over claims that Sunderland had ‘planned’ for relegation. McCarthy on Friday claimed what most Sunderland fans had already assumed:

‘There was a view taken in the summer that, of course we wanted to stay up and do well, but if we didn’t, the group of players will stay here and be a force to be reckoned with (in the Championship).’

For all McCarthy’s critics as a Premiership manager, not many would question his honesty and integrity, and his claims here did not seem to strike many Sunderland fans as bogus, even if it did anger and frustrate many at the club’s lack of ambition.

However Murray blasted back over the weekend, claiming these remarks were ‘blatantly untrue and insulting’. Murray obviously took exception to the remarks of his manager, adding:

‘We all feel very let down by the season and are having to manage the most difficult scenario we all could imagine. It’s certainly not a situation anyone would have purposely planned for!’

While many claim that if Murray was to sack McCarthy he would have done a long time before now, he has made no concrete effort to publicly back McCarthy and now that this first sign of a split has arisen, the two could well be separated, as usual the victim being the manager, who for many Sunderland fans is not considered the main offender at the club.

While the Sunderland Echo has claimed no talks are planned between the two and the club wants to forget this off-field incident and move on, a Sunderland spokesman today refused to comment to a Radio 5live reporter on the possibility of McCarthy being sacked today, fuelling speculation that his axing is imminent.

If McCarthy survives today however, the biggest game of his season so far is undoubtedly Spurs at home on Sunday. Another tame loss coupled with further evident signs of discontent from the home fans should well see the end of the Yorkshireman’s Sunderland reign.



**What’s your view on what’s going on at Sunderland. Will Mick last the day? Who do you stand by, Mick or Murray? What can be done to save this club from turmoil? Have your say on the fans forum here. Register to win prizes for simply posting in the new Members League!**

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12 comments

  • DJ says:

    Can’t understand why you have stuck with him for so long personally…

  • AJames says:

    the problem is, the board had 2 choices, to sack him and try bring in a man to keep us up, or accept we were down and stay with mick deeming he is capable of bringing us back. they chose the 2nd, and before this argument i would have said he’ll stay at sunderland. however now he’s upset his chairman it looks increasingly unlikely he’ll stay.

  • DanielGaunt says:

    He’ll bring Sunderland back up if he stays. Sunderland needs to stick with a manager after their recent appointments.

  • BigYid says:

    Fair play on Sunday you guys never gave up.

  • AJames says:

    yeah that’s one thing this team can’t be faulted for. if only we had the quality needed to survive though.

  • coyleos says:

    I think you’ve got to stick with him, he’ll bring you back up, and hopefully he’ll have learned a valuable lesson from this season regarding his transfer policy.

  • AJames says:

    if we keep the majority of the squad together i and most fans would be confident of coming back up. however like you say then it would be a case of not making the same mistakes. regarding the transfer policy, it is maybe not mccarthy, but the club as whole, who needs to review this.

  • DeanoVilla says:

    I’m not being funny but has this guy got photo’s of your chairman in a compromising situation? How he has lasted this long I will never know.

  • book_me_browning says:

    Can’t stand McCarthy myself. He cost Eire dearly in the world cup when manager there – the guy is a liability!

  • AJames says:

    not sure about that mind, they got knocked out on penalties to Spain didn’t they! hardly down to managerial liability, especially as they managed it without their only world class player at the time.

  • Adie says:

    I feel so sorry for your fans. No one deserves to be in the slum you’re in

  • Adie says:

    By slum – I ment Slump!

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