Sunderland were prepared to challenge for promotion this season after narrowly missing out on a trip to Wembley the previous one. Regrettably, Black Cats supporters must accept that their team is far from the Championship top six due to a problem in the dugout.
The Wearside group parted ways with Tony Mowbray in December 2023. The 60-year-old had led Sunderland to sixth place the previous season, but his 461-day tenure with the team came to an end after only one win in five games. While a replacement was being sought, assistant coach Mike Dodds assumed interim leadership with the team three points out of the playoffs.
Michael Beale was Sunderland’s replacement, having joined two weeks after Mowbray left. The Englishman, who was recently fired by Rangers, had led QPR to triumph in the second division. Fans weren’t impressed by the appointment, though.
The doubts of the supporters were well-founded, as Beale drastically reduced Sunderland’s standings, managing just fourteen points from eleven league games. The last straw was a 2-1 loss at Birmingham, who were now led by Mowbray. After just sixty-three days in office, Beales was fired for the second time this season, and Sunderland had to start over in search of a new manager.
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