Sunderland sack McCarthorse

[keemanan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...nd/4778496.stm

Sunderland have sacked manager Mick McCarthy after three years in charge.



The Black Cats, 16 points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership, said it was "in the best interests of both parties for him to leave immediately".

Sunderland will appoint a caretaker manager for the remaining 10 matches of this season, and announce McCarthy's permanent successor in the summer.

Chairman Bob Murray said: "I would like to thank Mick McCarthy for his efforts for the club whilst at Sunderland."

Murray added: "We wish him and his family the best for the future."

Murray said as chairman he took "responsibility for what has proven to be an unsuccessful and heartbreaking season, despite the best intentions, efforts and expectations of every one at the club."

He went on: "I feel deeply sorry that the excitement, optimism and aspirations of all Sunderland fans looking forward to a return to the Premier League have been rewarded in this way and I apologise for this.

"It is especially tough on supporters who have turned out in numbers week in, week out; despite seeing so little to raise their spirits.

"It is hard to see such loyalty unrewarded and I am sorry that performances and results have not mirrored the tremendous level of support that the club has been given.

"The club did not return to the Premiership just to make up the numbers and whilst we fully expected it to be a tough first season back, none of us expected to be in the position we are today. "Looking ahead we will be taking our time to appoint a successor for what will be another very important season for the club in 2006."

[crowie]

An outstanding achievement from Big Mick.

Having managed the tail end of the "worst team ever in the EPL history" (tm Sunderland AFC) he has somehow rather amazingly managed to take them back into the EPL and lead a team which looks like smashing their previously dreadful record to bits. It truly is a fantastic effort to have a hand in the two worst teams, ever, in the history of the EPL. It does help that they are both Sunderland.

Well done Sunderland and Big Mick, a record which I am sure no one will be able to beat. Unless Sunderland come back up again at the end of next season.

[CJ Mars]

Well done Sunderland and Big Mick, a record which I am sure no one will be able to beat. Unless Sunderland come back up again at the end of next season.

Thats a bit unfair Crowie IMO. Not disputing the awfulness of Sunderland (cash machine for punters by the by ) but the Board sent him up woefully unequipped in terms of personnel with lower league bargain buys and Premiership cast offs. They probably still should have done better but not a whole lot.

As a certain good friend of McCarthy's used to say "Failure to plan means planning for failure".

This debacle has probably torpedoed McCarthy in terms of manageing in the Premiership. I'm sure someone will take a chance on him in the lower divisions.

[rcgills]

The timing of this does seem rather strange though. They're doomed now, and no change of manager is going to help that. Despite his terrible record with them in the Premiership, McCarthy would've been well-equipped to get them promoted back up again next season. If they were going to sack him, surely the time to do it was a few months ago, when they were doing terribly, but still had time to turn things around?

[crowie]

Originally Posted by CJ Mars

Thats a bit unfair Crowie IMO. Not disputing the awfulness of Sunderland (cash machine for punters by the by ) but the Board sent him up woefully unequipped in terms of personnel with lower league bargain buys and Premiership cast offs. They probably still should have done better but not a whole lot.

As a certain good friend of McCarthy's used to say "Failure to plan means planning for failure".

This debacle has probably torpedoed McCarthy in terms of manageing in the Premiership. I'm sure someone will take a chance on him in the lower divisions.

Until West Ham signed Ashton for £7m in Jan, they and Sunderland had spent approx the same amount of money between end of last season and this season CJ. West Ham finished 21 points behind Sunderland last season but are 32 points ahead of them this season. Thats a hell of a turnaround for having approx the same resources.

While neither side has had a fortune to spend then surely its down to the managers to identify where best to spend their money. Where as Pardew has picked up players like Benayoun, Konchesky and Gabbidon, MM has spent his money on a couple of strikers who have 1 league goal between them and if anyone is being honest, were hardly going to terrify the EPL defences.

Its the job of a manager to look at his players and be able to work out if they will be good enough to do the job at EPL level. Ok, the board has to take a bit of responsibility as you have to invest to stay in this league but surely MM would have been going to them and saying "This lot are not good enough, I need some money to improve the squad". If he wasn't, then its huge rick on his part if he felt these players were good enough for this level. It just looks to me as if his judgement of players abilities is lacking totally.

[Swooperman]

He'd had a row with the chairman not too long ago when he'd said something in the papers that the board were 'disappointed to read' if I remember rightly. I've always felt a bit sorry for him tbh & I think hes a decent championship manager. Hes not set the world alight but....well.....cant be argued with his record really whether I like him or not

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by crowie

An outstanding achievement from Big Mick.

Having managed the tail end of the "worst team ever in the EPL history" (tm Sunderland AFC) he has somehow rather amazingly managed to take them back into the EPL and lead a team which looks like smashing their previously dreadful record to bits. It truly is a fantastic effort to have a hand in the two worst teams, ever, in the history of the EPL. It does help that they are both Sunderland.

Well done Sunderland and Big Mick, a record which I am sure no one will be able to beat. Unless Sunderland come back up again at the end of next season.

Nice one, enjoyed that.

As mentioned its a bit strange sacking him with 10 games left as it will just upset the camp, which seems to already be the case with players coming out and questioning the boards decision.

A new manager coming in isn't going to save them so i don't see the point as now they will have to stump up some compensation package.

But Crowie is right, that really is some feat to have had the two worst sides in the EPL of all time