Sunderland have sacked Blues legend Tony Mowbray from his role as head coach with fellow former Town defender Mark Venus, his assistant, also leaving the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats are currently ninth in the Championship having won only two of their last nine matches and are without a win in three. On Saturday they drew 1-1 at Millwall.

Last season, having taken over at the end of August 2022, the duo took the Wearsiders to the play-offs where they were beaten by Luton in the semi-finals.

 “All at SAFC have thoroughly enjoyed working with Tony and he is quite rightly held in high regard by our players and staff, and our supporters,” sporting director Kristjaan Speakman told the Sunderland website.
 
“After arriving at an uncertain time, he helped guide us to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs and played an important role in developing our team.

“This was a difficult decision to make, but we remain loyal to our ambition and our strategy, and felt that now was the right moment to take this step.
 
“We are now focused on identifying the right candidate and we will continue to support our coaching team and players throughout the interim period.”
 
Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus added: “I would like to place on record my gratitude to Tony for his hard work and commitment to Sunderland, a place where he will always be welcome.
 
“As custodians of our great club, we believe in our long-term strategy that we hope will ensure sustainability and success for SAFC.

“Central to that approach is a relentless demand for a high performance culture to be implemented throughout the club and the development of a strong playing identity that you, our loyal supporters, can all be proud of.
 
“Your continued support will also be fundamental to that progress and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Stadium of Light throughout the festive period and as we enter 2024.”
 
Head of individual player development Mike Dodds will lead first-team training and match preparations during the process of appointing a new permanent boss.

Earlier this evening, Swansea City sacked their manager Michael Duff.

Photo: Matchday Images

Handslikeplates2 added 22:25 - Dec 4 Seems a strange decision to me, I’m sure Sunderland would have ended up top six under Mowbray. He won’t be out of football for long.
24

Radlett_blue added 22:31 - Dec 4 3pts off the play-offs, eh? Over half the season to go. Mowbray took Sunderland into the play offs in his first season at the helm & has won more games than he lost at pretty much every club he has managed. What a numpty their owner is, aged only 25 & who inherited a billion from his father.
22

Whos_blue added 22:36 - Dec 4 That feels a little harsh on Mogga and Veno. Two footballing gents. I'm sure they'll bounce back.
14

MickMillsTash added 22:36 - Dec 4 Sunderland sold Ross Wallace in the summer didn't replace him and the manager gets the bullet not the corporate b@llsh1t talking chairman.
14

Europablue added 22:52 - Dec 4 There's a reason why were able to do well in this league, and that is because most clubs are run badly and it really shows that we are so much better run than almost any other club in this league.
18

Gforce added 23:08 - Dec 4 The sacking season is certainly in full swing now,with Sheff Wed,Rotherham, QPR,Huddersfield, Millwall, Bristol City, Swansea, Birmingham and Sunderland all getting shot of their manager.Who's next I wonder ? Probably Wagner,but hopefully after we've played them.(We don't won't that new manager bounce!)
7

Gforce added 23:13 - Dec 4 don't want.
0

KiwiBlue2 added 02:09 - Dec 5 'Act in haste, repent at leisure' is the old saying. Sunderland are still well placed with over half the season to go. The 25 year old is obviously of the instant gratification brigade and might well regret his move fairly quickly as the list of 'available' managers looks rather inferior to Tony and Mark. Time will tell I guess......
12

bobble added 03:10 - Dec 5 thats sunderlands season over....
3

Saxonblue74 added 06:26 - Dec 5 Ridiculous, really hope they slide down the table as a result. Less than a season and a half ago they were in league 1, last season they made the championship play-offs and are in contention to do so again. January transfer window looming large, should be backing him not sacking him! Take a look at Birmingham, that's gone well hasn't it?!
12

itfcserbia added 07:07 - Dec 5 Right, that will reduce my feelings for SAFC. Used to look over table and see how Mogga was doing, not anymore. They can (and probably will) finish bottom half now. And with such a young squad, what a silly decision.
8

tractorboybig added 07:19 - Dec 5 its modern day football and when things go wrong here do you think the owners of this club will be any different?
-9

shakytown added 07:48 - Dec 5 Stupid!!!!!
2

Bluearmy_81 added 09:02 - Dec 5 Mick Milks tash absolutely correct, yet when evans sold all our best players and replaced them with dross there was never a word of criticism of him, it was always criticism of the manager!! Town fans are a strange lot!
-1

Bert added 09:12 - Dec 5 This sad sacking further underlines that Norwich are either very loyal to their manager or just cannot afford to sack him. Probably the latter.
4

Radlett_blue added 09:21 - Dec 5 Europablue - McKenna was appointed by GameChanger after Evans appointed 5 duds out of 6, - are Town now "well run" of did we simply luck out with McKenna?
1

Ipswichbusiness added 09:30 - Dec 5 Bert, you may be right, but there is another reason. They appointed a new Sporting Director only a few weeks ago, so I suppose that he needs time to assess the situation.
0

bobble added 10:00 - Dec 5 yes ...they will now have to go through the manager shuffling curse for 10 years to find a decent one...wonder what division they will be when they do ....
0

dirtydingusmagee added 10:24 - Dec 5 feel sorry for Tony and Mark , they have been under a cloud of rumours for a long time even when things were going well [not that they are doing badly now , That atmosphere is not good for anyone . They will find another club quickly imo . GOOD LUCK to them both ,
1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:21 - Dec 5 I don't think they would go to Narch would they?
0

Scuzzer added 15:39 - Dec 5 Behind the scenes disagreements apparently.
0

Keanos_Barmy added 19:05 - Dec 5 Bluearmy what substance were you taking at the time? Or was I? Seem to remember Evans being ripped to bits.
1

blueboy1981 added 19:21 - Dec 5 Crazy Decision by an obviously Crazy Club ! Two of the very best Manager/Coach combinations in the Football League. Hope you get Relegated Sunderland - you deserve to !
0

blueboy1981 added 19:29 - Dec 5 Some if you better now hope that Norwich don’t sack Wagner - with Mogga/Venus now available ! Neither owe us any favours ! - Food for thought that.
0

ArnieMsBigToe added 06:13 - Dec 6 Tony and Mark off to Swansea then!!
0

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