Mick McCarthy sacked

[Liam]

Sunderland sack manager McCarthy

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

The club are 16 points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premiership and said it was "in the best interests of both parties for him to leave immediately".

Assistant Academy manager Kevin Ball has been put in charge for the last 10 matches of the season with a permanent appointment to be made in the summer.

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

The sacking comes the day after Sunderland's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

McCarthy said he had given it his best shot and added: "I've enjoyed every single minute of it.

"I'm sure I've got support and I'm sure there are people that think otherwise.

"It's been tough these past few months but it's been a pleasure and I've been fortunate. I've done my best and can't do anything more

"I'll move on and eventually do something else. It's been brilliant and I've thoroughly enjoyed the support of the fans."

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

He 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."

McCarthy took over on 12 March 2003 with Sunderland bottom of the Premiership, taking over from the dismissed Howard Wilkinson who lasted just 27 games.

McCarthy was powerless to prevent the club, who had already sacked Peter Reid earlier that season, from dropping down to the Championship.

The former Republic of Ireland boss lost all nine games as they finished with a Premiership record low of 19 points.

But despite being saddled with huge debts and having to sell the bulk of his first-team squad, McCarthy led the club to third in the Championship before losing to Crystal Palace in the play-offs.

The following season McCarthy led the club to the Championship title with 94 points.

But this campaign has been a disaster, with the club only winning two games out of 28 games.

They were also knocked out of the FA Cup by League One side Brentford.

McCarthy and Murray had a public falling out when the manager was quoted as saying the club had planned for possible relegation.

The chairman was furious at suggestions that they were not totally committed to keeping the club up, but the pair appeared to patch up their differences.

McCarthy's hopes of keeping them up were hampered by limited funds, with the club's debts at around £40m.

Despite their perilous position the Sunderland players have continued to battle for McCarthy but have been clearly lacking in the quality needed for the top flight.

He leaves with a record of 31 defeats in 37 games in the Premiership.

Ball, a former Sunderland captain, will now take charge for 10 matches but with the club surely already condemned to relegation.

"We have appointed Kevin Ball caretaker manager until the end of the season and hope that supporters will give him their full backing," said Murray.

"Kevin has always felt passionately about Sunderland and is a true professional. His grit, determination and leadership qualities have always been greatly appreciated by Sunderland fans and the club.

"Sunderland supporters have been incredibly tolerant and supportive in the last few months, which have been very difficult, and I would also like to thank them for that.

"Now is the time to give Kevin Ball and the team support to try to get back to winning ways."

Shame, I like McCarthy, but he has nothing to work with at that club.

[TheArsenal]

I don't see why Sunderland are in the position they're in. They won the Championship last year and yet to win only TWO GAMES out of twenty eight is inexcusable, especially when Wigan and West Ham are doing so well.

[9 to 5]

Might as well have waited till the end of the season to sack him. :/ Guess him and the chairman fell out or summit.

I don't see why Sunderland are in the position they're in. They won the Championship last year and yet to win only TWO GAMES out of twenty eight is inexcusable, especially when Wigan and West Ham are doing so well.

Sunderland had little money to bring in players whist Wigan and Weest Ham did. Seriously, when Sunderland's biggest signing was I think Jon Stead for 1.8m they were always going to struggle but to this degree? I didn't expect this.

Edited March 6, 2006 by 9 to 5

[Liam]

I don't see why Sunderland are in the position they're in. They won the Championship last year and yet to win only TWO GAMES out of twenty eight is inexcusable, especially when Wigan and West Ham are doing so well.

Simple...they had no money to invest, and thier team is quite obviously Championship standard.

[TheArsenal]

But a Championship winning team still shouldn't be at the standard where they only have 2 wins and 10 points from 28 games.

No other side coming up from the Championship has this issue, so it means anything Sunderland are investing is being done wrongly while they are in the Championship.

[Liam]

No other side coming up from the Championship has this issue, so it means anything Sunderland are investing is being done wrongly while they are in the Championship.

Most Championship teams who come up who can't invest money in the side do have this problem, though usually not to the same extent as Sunderland. It's very rare for a team to come up and sty up if they haven't spent money on the team. Both Wigan and West have been in a position to spend a lot of money, Sunderland haven't

[9 to 5]

Take last season for example, both Norwich and Crystal Palace went straight back down and West Brom only just stayed up and they all spent more than Sunderland did. True they didn't get raped like Sunderland are being but it takes a great effort to stay up and money if you have it.

[Marsh]

I'd imagine this decision has been reached now rather than at the end of the season because McCarthy has just lost heart. In his interview after Sunderland's last loss to Man City he had a few comments to make that I doubt the board appreciated.

I'm sick of trying to talk up a lousy position from a lousy season.

[9 to 5]

I'd imagine this decision has been reached now rather than at the end of the season because McCarthy has just lost heart. In his interview after Sunderland's last loss to Man City he had a few comments to make that I doubt the board appreciated.

I'm sick of trying to talk up a lousy position from a lousy season.

Ah, didn't hear that interview. If he is talking like that I think he will be happy he has left.

[TheArsenal]

Take last season for example, both Norwich and Crystal Palace went straight back down and West Brom only just stayed up and they all spent more than Sunderland did. True they didn't get raped like Sunderland are being but it takes a great effort to stay up and money if you have it.

[9 to 5]

Oh I agree it's a bit shocking but on the other hand I don't think many of us had any other team pegged to be bottom at the end.

[The Slickman]

Sunderland fans wont be delighted at this news i would imagine .

I went to the Stadium of light a few weeks ago and the Sunderland fans wasnt calling for Mccarthy's head , They wanted the chairman out .

[MDK]

When the fans chant for the managers head, the chairman backs him.

When the fans chant for the chairmans head, the chairman sacks him.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Shame. McCarthy is actually a decent manager but with no backing and no money after getting promoted into the Prem, they were never gonna survive, unlike a club like Wigan who are loaded, and West Ham who have always provided money for signings.

[supergrass]

Might as well have waited till the end of the season to sack him. :/ Guess him and the chairman fell out or summit.

I don't see why Sunderland are in the position they're in. They won the Championship last year and yet to win only TWO GAMES out of twenty eight is inexcusable, especially when Wigan and West Ham are doing so well.

Sunderland had little money to bring in players whist Wigan and Weest Ham did. Seriously, when Sunderland's biggest signing was I think Jon Stead for 1.8m they were always going to struggle but to this degree? I didn't expect this.

[Grounded Wingman]

Might as well have waited till the end of the season to sack him. :/ Guess him and the chairman fell out or summit.

I don't see why Sunderland are in the position they're in. They won the Championship last year and yet to win only TWO GAMES out of twenty eight is inexcusable, especially when Wigan and West Ham are doing so well.

Sunderland had little money to bring in players whist Wigan and Weest Ham did. Seriously, when Sunderland's biggest signing was I think Jon Stead for 1.8m they were always going to struggle but to this degree? I didn't expect this.

[TheArsenal]

Might as well have waited till the end of the season to sack him. :/ Guess him and the chairman fell out or summit.

I don't see why Sunderland are in the position they're in. They won the Championship last year and yet to win only TWO GAMES out of twenty eight is inexcusable, especially when Wigan and West Ham are doing so well.

Sunderland had little money to bring in players whist Wigan and Weest Ham did. Seriously, when Sunderland's biggest signing was I think Jon Stead for 1.8m they were always going to struggle but to this degree? I didn't expect this.

I think that was part of his problem though. £1.8million to Sunderland is clearly a lot of money, why spend it on someone who over the course of the previous year proved they aren't a Premiership striker? Wigan had the money to spend but their team is largely based on the team that won promotion.

I don't think that anybody really could have kept Sunderland up, but as has been mentioned, being humiliated is the problem. If it keeps on it'll have an effect next year and when or if they ever make it back to the Premiership. He had to go, why not do it now and give the new manager time to settle and assess the squad before next season begins?

[Xero Gravity]

Dammit...I liked Mick in charge of the club, he was much better than the last guy who I hated so much I can't even remember what the hell his name was. But I'm glad Kevin Ball's taking over until the end of the season, and I wouldn't mind seeing him be the permanent replacement seeing as there can't be many decent managers who'd take on Sunderland in the state they're in.

Where are all the Russian billionaires when we need them?

[The LBTN Express]

he was much better than the last guy who I hated so much I can't even remember what the hell his name was.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I think many Sunderland fans agreed that ultimatel they went up a season too soon and weren't as set for the Prem as West Ham or Wigan