Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus gives his verdict on the club’s manager as fans slam a disgusting tweet on Max Power being released.
Reports had claimed that the Black Cats were looking to sacking Lee Johnson this week after holding talks over bringing in a replacement, however he’s here to stay it would seem.
The only assurance Lee had about his role in charge of the League One club is his contract
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Johnson signed a two-and-a-half-year deal when he was appointed Sunderland head coach in December last year, replacing Phil Parkinson.
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has previously spoken about his long-term plans and why he won’t panic even if the Black Cats failed to win promotion.
However tensions are growing in the fanbase, with a group of supporters making their feelings known after the game at the Stadium of Light, see the video on that HERE.
At his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Sunderland head coach was asked if he’d had assurances over his future if they lose.
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Johnson said: “Certainly in terms of the contract.
“It is never a manager’s decision, that. I will always respond and react like I will be here forever, knowing that through success or failure you could be gone tomorrow.
“Yes it is the biggest game, that is what it feels like. I wish I could play. I want to help the boys, everything is wrapped up in me, I am the manager, the aggressor, the fan, the one who loves the lads.
“We want to turn it around and make it a great story for everyone. It is not an ideal situation and we have to come at it as aggressively as we can.”
It means another season in the third tier of English football for the north-east giants, who have not been in the Championship since the 2017-18 campaign.
“Lee Johnson was a long-term appointment from the start”, Sunderland owner Louis-Dreyfus gives his verdict on the manager.
“We all knew that regardless of the outcome of the season that he would be with us next season and I think he is the right man to lead us to promotion, hopefully, in the forthcoming season.”
“I was disappointed like everyone else that the season didn’t finish as we expected it to finish, however at the same time I do feel positive and I am looking forward to next season, even in League One.
“Once you are in the play-offs, anything can happen and unfortunately we fell short over the two legs against Lincoln, however I think the players deserve credit. They tried their best and it just didn’t work out for us this time.
“We announced our squad list for next season yesterday and there were a number of departures who will need to be replaced.
“Over the last few months we have recruited a lot of people across the industry, like Stuart Harvey (Head Of Recruitment) and Kristjaan Speakman (Sporting Director), so I trust that we have a good team in place to look for the best possible replacements.”
Meanwhile, the club have revealed their released and retained list, and it got plenty of talk.
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The following senior players are retained under contract:
Aiden O’Brien
Anthony Patterson
Arbenit Xhemajli
Bailey Wright
Benjamin Kimpioka
Carl Winchester
Dan Neil
Elliot Embleton
George Dobson
Jack Diamond
Jordan Willis
Josh Hawkes
Lee Burge
Lynden Gooch
Oliver Younger
Ross Stewart
Tom Flanagan
Will Grigg
The following senior players are to be offered a new contract:
Denver Hume
Luke O’Nien
Aiden McGeady
Charlie Wyke
The following senior players are to be released:
Callum McFadzean
Chris Maguire
Conor McLaughlin
Grant Leadbitter
Josh Scowen
Max Power
Remi Matthews
The following senior players have returned to their parent clubs:
Dion Sanderson
Jake Vokins
Jordan Jones
Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said: “We would like to place on record our appreciation to the players who will be leaving the club this summer. Although we have been unable to achieve our core objective, they were instrumental in bringing silverware back to Wearside and we wish each of them every success in the next stage of their careers. We have had to make some tough decisions, but we firmly believe they are in the best interests of Sunderland AFC in the long term.”
Lee Johnson added: “The players have worked extremely hard this season in very difficult circumstances and their reward for that was a trophy-winning season and a Play-Off spot. We are all disappointed we couldn’t achieve our ultimate goal of winning League One, but we thank the players for their endeavours and commitment and we will always welcome them back to the football club with open arms. As we look to a new dawn, there are many reasons to be optimistic about our future as we continue to rebuild the football club.”
With rumours that Sunderland are set to sack their manager, fans slam a disgusting tweet written on Max Power.
An account named Fulweller (@sunlancity) got very personal before deleting his tweet and account following the backlash it got.
He wrote to Max Power: “Tell your kids you are an absolute failure at the biggest club you’ll ever play for @mp_1825”
There was other abuse sent to the player who was released.
It seems the player may be taking in in good stead, however fans completely forget how tweeting such horrid comments can impact a player’s mental health massively.
This is something which is sadly on the rise, abuse social media is worse than it’s ever been, with campaigns galore to prevent this, including calling on the social media companies to doing more stamping it out.
We are also seeing footballers losing and struggling with their lives, and this is why more is being done to spread awareness of men’s state of well-being.
Think before you speak. Because words can hurt in more ways than one.
– Samaritans. To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
– SANEline. If you’re experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).
– Papyrus HOPELINEUK. If you’re under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697.
– Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). If you identify as male, you can call the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) or use their webchat service.
Fans chose to slam the disgusting tweet on Max Power, see how the united and tried to make Power feel better…
Me too gave everything, played out of position in the last part of the season to help out. Do I wish we saw the more aggressive forceful Max Power from those first ten or so games under Ross. Of course but it wasn’t from a lack of trying. Will always be a warm welcome from me. pic.twitter.com/SwDvCrXzUs
— Colin Woodruff (@laszlowoodbine) May 25, 2021
@dad_dav: Hey Max, good luck and best wishes in whatever you do in the future
@jacka17: Slagging a player off who never gave less than 100%, what’s the point?
@docant67: Max if you were maybe in the process of thinking over a new contract with SAFC, then I wudnt be surprised if these idiots changes ur mind. Gud luck in all your future endeavours and thank you always giving ur all for my club.
@SteveT_10: Bizarre that some fans just have to hate. Max always looked to be giving his all in games. Certainly cared and was clearly wanting to help get us promoted to the end even though he likely already knew he was moving on. Good luck to him at his next club.
@Gerry_McGregor: Max enjoyed your time with us. I hope you have a good future in football & wish you & your family well.
@hayes1956: Good luck in the future @mp_1825 best wishes for you and your family.
@KINGMAGUIRE1: Them fans who have done that are embarrassing
@88NTaylor: Max Power gave it more than most. They aren’t real fans giving that grief and Twitter is always the worst place for these kind of things. I would always 1 Max Power over 10 Jack Rodwells. Thanks for the service Max @mp_1825
@chrissybfc: Good luck @mp_1825 in your future endeavours. Thank you for your time and our club, these people don’t stand for everyone else.
@roborange73: We have far too many zoomers following our club, I wouldn’t call them supporters…. Supporters support….. All the best max
@S4fcNi4ll: Most of them will be 40+ still thinking we are in the premier league
@GarryT01: Disgusting. Lad deserves way better. Met him briefly the day after the checkagrade and he was sound.
@Omitchell90: Bit different to people like Rodwell on 70k a week and refusing to play, he cared and put everything in. We don’t deserve to get out of league one when people are giving dogs abuse to players like this for having the audacity to not win all the time.
@crazydiamond26: Disgraceful comments. These people are not true supporters.
@AlanJWatson: Absolute mouth breathers them lot, bloody hell
@macbazz: These people are NOT #safc fans, we do not treat our players like this
@Tdog0004: Not the brightest bunch. Good luck Max
@gazk_mackem: Wow, some of our fans are something else. This kind of thing on social media needs stopped.
@themac1982: Honestly man!! Some of our fans are worse than them fuckwits up the road…
@MarcTay86802766: Absolute bellends. They’re an embarrassment to the club
@1879RednWhiter: Good luck in your next adventure and sincere thanks for your efforts with ours. Hope you get lots of opportunity to enjoy future success and ‘get the fuckin’ tunes on’! Take care bud
@WatsUpFella: Pathetic from them so called fans
@SAFCFANSVIEW: Probs the same fans who were outside the stadium on Saturday. Muppets
@Ridaz233: Wow @SunderlandAFC find these fans and ban them from the stadium. Absolute disgraceful behaviour!
@pjclemo: There aren’t half some awful pricks on Twitter. Imagine sending something so needlessly mean to a guy who clearly gave everything he had. These people are proper little sad acts.
@eff_tee_emm: I don’t know Max but he always gave his all and probably guilty of trying too hard if anything. Some idiots about but they don’t represent majority. Wish him all the best. Obviously a good man, which is most important thing in life
@JohnRut71220330: Always comes across as a top bloke his leadership and loyalty to the club was there for all to see against Oxford all the best for the future
@KierenJennings: Been disgusted by some of the shite I’ve read about him recently. Always feel like he’s put in a shift and seeing this just proves he’s a decent bloke. All the best @mp_1825
@dpgroves6: Classy and thoughtful. The action of a good man to whom most #SAFC fans will wish the best of luck to!!
@bohemoth72: Twitter is a wonderful thing as much as it is an awful thing. Too many people feel fit to criticise for no reason. Power always came over as a genuine person and lie many others, I wish him all the best
@John67684101: Wish you all the best max and good luck
@GarryT01: Too easy for those too thick, bitter and / or angry to know better to abuse people with no recourse. Appalling, lad deserves way better.
@leonm2056: Unfortunately some people confuse being a limited footballer with being an arse hole. Some of the shit he’s been getting on here is bang out of order.
@johngraham790: People have short memories. Kone/ndong took the piss up here. Power always gave his best and wanted the club to succeed. It didn’t happen for the want of effort so I won’t criticise him personally.
@GARP1967: I’d take Max Power in any aspect of life over some semi literate, faceless Twitter troll purporting to be a SAFC supporter. Hope @mp_1825 takes no heed of such arsewipes.. genuine Sunderland fans thank him for his efforts & wish him nothing but the best for the future.
@parkin_quinn: Lovely bloke, shouldn’t be treating him like shit
Seen that tweet kicking about regarding Max Power, absolutely awful.
Wasn’t going to share this but I want to show you what I’ll remember Max Power for, a genuine good bloke.
So to you @mp_1825 I wish you nothing but the best and hope that you know we don’t condone that. pic.twitter.com/ge033NAzws
— Connor Gardner (@ConnorGardner) May 25, 2021
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