Sunderland: 'Martin O'Neill has not resigned' By Robert Summerscales, Reporter Filed: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 20:38 UK Last Updated: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 20:41 UK Reports suggesting that Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has resigned have been rejected by the club. Earlier this evening, rumours were spread claiming that the 60-year-old had offered to quit his post as manager following the 4-2 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion. However, according to Sky Sports News, club sources have insisted that O'Neill has "unequivocally not resigned" and that he remains in charge at the Stadium of Light. O'Neill signed a three-year contract when he replaced Steve Bruce on Wearside 11 months ago.
SHOCK REPORT: "Sea is wet". Another case of journos indulging in you-heard-it-here-first speculation.
But the denials are not, as they should be, coming from officials at the club. Their silence on these stories, which have been circulating for a couple of weeks now, is deafening. If it were bullshit then a statement would have surely been made either way. The failure to do so is just fueling the fires of speculation and adding to the rumour. Come on Martin and SAFC, make a statement either way, as this is getting out of hand now.
Id hoped the statement would say something a bit more concrete about his future going forward rather than just confirm he hasnt resigned, which could still mean he simply hasnt resigned as yet.
Really? Where at? Is it the Owner? Cant be. Is it the manager? What one of the most respected, highly sought after managers when we got him in the land? Never. Is it the financial state of the club? What the safe as the bank of England coffers at SAFC? Nope. Is it the players? Not one word of dissent or want away from any of them. So no there too. Ah, I see, its the instability created in the minds of those creatures called 'fans' who think success is something that is poured out of a tin overnight and to be consumed with ease on a weekly basis. That's the only unstable thing about SAFC at the moment in my opinion and its truly ridiculous to contemplate. Given time, this manager will build something worthwhile and long term here and something we can all be proud of but hound him out and all the stable elements mentioned above may well just fold alongside his departure and we will be back to the Mick Buxton type appointments and Tom Cowie / Bob Murray eras, top of the 2nd division and beating teams like Port Vale or Bury 5-0 every week. That may well appeal to some but it terrifies the life out of me tbh. I'll keep MoN and a solid top flight club thank you very much.
Really? Where at? Is it the Owner? Cant be. Is it the manager? What one of the most respected, highly sought after managers when we got him in the land? Never. Is it the financial state of the club? What the safe as the bank of England coffers at SAFC? Nope. Is it the players? Not one word of dissent or want away from any of them. So no there too. Sorry Cestria, your'e right, I'm wrong, I'll always hope for better for this great club of ours even though at least behind the scenes we are better off than most clubs. I've lived too many of the bad times & not enough good times at the club, even though I've never thought MON was the man for the job (I would be delighted to be eat my words) I'll always hope for his success, if he's doing a good job then we're heading in the right direction, if it's any comfort I will say he would do a better job than Guardiola. It's just that I've at times come to regard our club as a bit of a graveyard for footballs big names of the day, usually at the clubs cost. I too can remember the days of Mick Buxton, as well as McMenemy, Wilkinson, Butcher, I can remember chairmen like Cowie & Murray, where no-one knew what was going on. All I want is to see success at Sunderland AFC, I don't care if we finish above NUFC, I don't care what's happening at any other club, I only see the blood and the bandage of Sunderland
Shieldcat I'm not oblivious to the current problems and I am not at all happy about being beaten at home off WBA (see my posts yesterday) but into my 39th season now and this current SAFC set up is about as good as its ever been. 5 consecutive seasons in the top flight is almost unheard of in my lifetime and we have everything in place now (inc the manager imo) to really build on our 5 foundation building seasons. What we don't need right now is another change of manager (it would be our 5th manager in 6 years), especially when that appointment will not be better than the one we have. Moyes took 6 seasons to build a strong Everton team and he nearly relegated them twice in his first 4 seasons but they stuck with him. Martin is a top bloke and desperately wants to make it here. We owe him the time and support to let him do his stuff and show us why he has such a fantastic pedigree in the game. That said, Tuesday is a definite must win game or some fans will turn imo at the game and that may take its own sad turn after that.
Not many clubs have tried harder than us in management. We've been brilliant in luring class managers with proven records to SAFC but somehow they bombed when they got here, always the Board and fans left with the frustration of it. What the hell, we are used to it and have remained with the club through thin and thinner.
