Lifted of newsnow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunderland boss Steve Bruce could be sacked before the end of the season with the Black Cats board targeting a swoop for Steve McLaren. The ambitious North East club have seen their fortunes slide in recent weeks with the Mackems currently enduring a nine game winless streak. Bruce has six games to save the Wearsiders starting with a home game against his former club Wigan at the weekend. A defeat could theoretically plunge the Black Cats further into the relegation mire and our Sunderland source suggests that the board at the Stadium of Light are getting very twitchy indeed. "It's no secret that Steve Bruce and Niall Quinn did not see eye to eye over the sale of Darren Bent and relations between the two have been strained ever since," our Footy Insider said. "Results haven't helped Steve Bruce's cause and Sunderland's American investor Ellis Short is keen to see some return on his investment." Bruce is as short as 3/1 to be sacked before the season ends and there are whispers from the Stadium of Light that former Middlesbrough and England boss Steve McLaren could be making a return to the North East. Current form tables suggest that the Black Cats will stay safe in their battle for the drop, but that's by no means certain to save Bruce his job. Sunderland are currently five points above the relegation zone with six matches to play.
I said Steve Mclaren in your poll the other week. He was # 2 to SAF for a few years (so must have learnt something) Got Boro to the UEFA final Won the Dutch League with Twente ok he was a complete failiure for the England Job, and Wolfsburg, but then not many managers have made a huge success of the England job over the years, as for Wolfsburg, not sure, dont really follow the German league. Personally i think we could do a lot worse than Steve Mclaren, thats not to say he would be my first choice as manager, but I would not write him off straight away.
Interesting view point Steve, not my first choice by a long chalk either, but better than what we have at the moment. FC Twente have always been crap, but he made them play fantastic, and they whooped Ajax, Suarez never had a look in when he played against them, and as soon as F1 left they reverted back to normal.
If that report is true, it changes everything. I always felt that Bruce's only chance of survival now was Niall's personal loyalty towards him and dedication to stability. If they've fallen out, I think we need little short of five straight wins or else it's curtains for him. I didn't know about the "strained relations". If Ellis has any loyalty towards either of them, there's little doubt who it will be.
If the scenario is that they disagreed over the sale of Bent, then it is - for me - the one who decided he could go that should go. Worst decision since we sold Todd.
Since when has this been "no secret"? It's the first I've heard about it. As far as I know Villa tapped B€nt up and he asked to move - we had no choice but to sell. If there is any truth to the rumour I'd like to hear more. But it could just as easily be more crap paper talk.
I saw SNQ being interviewed on TV shortly after Bent left and got the distinct impression that it was he who sanctioned the sale of Bent. Wouldn't like to see SNQ go though.
And who do you think wanted to sell him, the dad whose daughter was being nobbed by him, or Quinney who had a 24 goal machine on his hands. and the finger goes to ?
I want whoever has SAFC truly at heart, not just through soundbites or platitudes. Whoever said its time for Bent to go should go. We only needed 5 more months out of him! Don't tell me he wouldn't appreciate in that time! 6 mpore goals, say. Where would we be now? How much would we get?
SNQ every ****ing time mate! He could sell every player on the books and he would still be God in my eyes!! The man is a legend. PS.... I also think that we must get a certain Mr Phillips back here when he hangs his boots up. He could be press officer to Steve Bruce!
