SUNDERLAND have parted company with manager Martin O’Neill after a 1-0 reverse against Manchester United left the Black Cats a point above the drop zone.
O’Neill, 61, was appointed in December 2011 and oversaw 65 league and cup matches in charge of the Lads.
In 17 months in charge, O’Neill oversaw 21 victories with a further 24 defeats and 20 draws.
A statement on the official Sunderland site read as follows:
‘Sunderland AFC has announced that it has parted company with manager Martin O`Neill this evening.
The club would like to place on record its thanks to Martin and wishes him well for the future.
An announcement will be made in the coming days regarding a successor.’
Taking over from Steve Bruce, the impact of O’Neill’s appointment was immediate; the Black Cats winning eight of their next 12.
There was a worrying taste of things to come however, as the final 18 league and cup fixtures yielded just three wins as Sunderland finished 13th in the Barclays Premier League.
A slow start to the current season saw the Black Cats wait until the end of September to record their first Premier League victory.
With just seven league wins all season, O’Neill leaves the club 16th in the Premier League table – two places and just a point above the relegation zone with seven to play.
Sunderland’s next two Premier League fixtures see them visit Chelsea and Newcastle United.
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You must be gutted. 🙂
I knew the first person to comment would be a Villa fan – I’m just surprised it wasn’t JF! He’s made some baffling decisions regards team selection, signings and tactics. I really thought he’d walk at the end of the season & I wouldn’t have been sorry to see him go based on the dross that has been this season. However, doing it now is a very odd decision. Why was a 1-0 defeat by champions-elect Man Utd the breaking point? They will look very silly unless someone is ready to takeover before the Chelsea game. All the saem, they have no time to change anything fundamental. Bizarre, bizarre timing!
Didn’t want to let you down safc123! 🙂 I’ll make sure JF apologises for his tardiness!
Completely agree on the timing, unless there’s off pitch reasons for that, it makes no sense to me now because selection wise the new guy will be dealt the same hand as Monny, leaving only maybe motivation or tactics to be affected? And that depends on who you can get in. January maybe, end of season certainly understandable but it could well now backfire instead of giving you a fresh wind.
Does leave open there’s been some work in the background though and it’s been on the cards for a while, but they couldn’t get their man?
Lol, sorry for the delay. Odd timing but maybe something behind closed doors happened ? I truly despise the man, and I’m no hater in life generally. Just a myth perpetuated by the match of the day and some London press types. Awful awful manager, sorry you guys, and us, got stuck with him.
Better late than never, or is it? lol
Well the fact Paolo Di Canio has been appointed 24hrs later suggests Ellis Short had been doing some work behind the cenes to at least sound out a replacements.
Whilst PDC does lack experience as a manager, he is at least the kind of inspirational, motivational character we thought we would get with MON. We need that kind of charisma to give the lads a lift, hopefully he can provide it!
Apart from the first few months, MON was dreadful for us basically. A massive disappointment.
Had to have been for that speed, wonder what the delay was then? Certainly a gamble!