Top six favourites to become new Sunderland manager with sacking confirmed

The top six favourites to become new Sunderland manager has been revealed with the sacking of Lee Johnson confirmed on Sunday evening.

The Black Cats have parted company with boss Johnson, 40, in the wake of Saturday’s 6-0 League One defeat at Bolton Wanderers.

He had arrived at the Stadium of Light in December 2020, but now he leaves along with assistant head coach Jamie McAllister.

Sunderland currently sit third in League One, two points off top spot, however unrest with fans has led to his departure with the club hoping to make this the season they get out of the third tier.

Sunderland AFC today announces the departure of Lee Johnson, who leaves the club with immediate effect.

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 30, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT:

Sunderland AFC today announced the departure of Lee Johnson as Head Coach.

The 40-year-old, who arrived at the Stadium of Light in December 2020, has left the club with immediate effect alongside Assistant Head Coach Jamie McAllister.

Johnson guided SAFC to 41 wins in 75 games, including the club’s first victory at Wembley Stadium since 1973, and he was named League One Manager of the Month on two occasions.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said: “I would like to thank Lee for his commitment and endeavour over the past 14 months. We regret that we have had to take this decision, but felt immediate change was needed. We firmly believe that this is in the best interests of Sunderland AFC as we strive to earn promotion this season. Lee and Jamie will always be welcome at the Stadium of Light and they depart with our best wishes.”

The process to appoint a new Head Coach will commence immediately and a further update regarding the club’s interim coaching set-up will be communicated shortly.

TOP SIX FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW SUNDERLAND MANAGER

BETVICTOR – 8:13pm Sunday
Grant McCann – 4/1
Paul Cook – 6/1
Steve Bruce – 8/1
Neil Lennon – 10/1
Simon Grayson – 10/1
Jonathan Woodgate – 12/1

BETVICTOR – 9:08pm Sunday
Duncan Ferguson – 5/4
Grant McCann – 3/1
Gareth Ainsworth – 8/1
John Terry – 10/1
Steve Bruce – 12/1
Paul Cook – 12/1

BETVICTOR – 9am Monday
Duncan Ferguson – 4/7
John Terry – 3/1
Grant McCann – 6/1
Neil Warnock – 16/1
Neil Lennon  – 16/1
Gareth Ainsworth – 16/1

BETVICTOR – 3pm Monday
Neil Lennon – 7/4
John Terry – 9/4
Grant McCann – 11/4
Neil Warnock – 8/1
Mick McCarthy – 8/1
Duncan Ferguson – 10/1

SEE MORE: Sunderland and Bolton fans fight as police officers get involved

Twitter users reacted as the top six favourites to become new Sunderland manager is revealed with the sacking of Lee Johnson confirmed…

@agbnufc_: This seems incredibly knee jerk, you’re second in the league? Classic season implosion.

@KINGST3WART: Are we ever going to have a normal season?

@loulabella_bee: One Johnson down…one to go!

@R_J_M_11: Sacking a manager when 2 points off top. What a strange, strange club sunderland are

@gaz_emmo: Why!!!! 41 wins in 75 games 😳 that’s a class record compared to some managers

@SAFCNathn: I’m split now. One day left of the transfer window, he has already brung in the players he wants, 3rd in the table. Who is there to bring in?

@Stevo_safc: All these posts blaming the fans. Have some fucking pride man, this is Sunderland AFC we should not be getting battered multiple times a season in League 1!

@ChrisBainbrid17: Utter lunacy…. Yesterday was a shocking result but we have played some great stuff this year under Johnson. Im 100% certain Johnson would’ve brought us the success we all crave. When will the club learn? Sacking managers doesn’t work. Who’s next another Phil Parkinson… FFS

@SAFC_Niall: I hope all who called for this are happy now, I personally think he should of had the rest of the season. Hope this doesn’t come back to haunt us.

@sparkymarc23: I’m over the moon, thank you. We’ve made a call to save our season and give us the best chance of getting promoted. We’ve floated all season with no clear indication of which direction we’re headed.

@BenCra1g: We’ve given him the entire window, won us a trophy, undoubtedly got us playing the best football we’ve played in L1, spent serious time in the autos unlike any previous manager, we sit 3rd and we sack him? Seems like a childish, naive, reactive decision with zero plan at all

@RobTate87: Shocked me. All the best Lee clearly a good bloke and been canny to watch in patches. The results speak for them selves though and had to gan.

@StephenStubbs5: They need to have someone lined up or this is a shocking decision, next person through the door has to be the one

@_AR91: Absolute shambles of a decision in my opinion. Yeah, had some stinker results this season and haven’t had the best of form lately but who do we even get in as a replacement?

@Owensara5: Wtf

@MattySunlun: Terrible decision in my opinion. 2 days before the window is closed

@JoeMcNa36001719: Wow I didn’t expect that

@guffsafc73: If we can avoid sacking managers, great. If said manager underperforms then the inevitable happens. Yesterday was unacceptable and whilst there has been promising signs, we look weak with no Plan B.

@arron_mather: Seriously? 3rd in the league ffs

@tibsashton: Sure the defeat was bad but third and genuinely building something. Feels like twice he has got the boot unfairly

@Padraigthe4th: LJ proved to be incredibly divisive amongst our fanbase, and understandably so. I guess we won’t know whether this is a good decision until the end of the season. Wish him all the best, actually quite liked the bloke.

@PFCJ96: Swear he’s done better than any of their other managers in League One. Think they’re gonna slide down the table now

@eternalbluesun_: I don’t even know what I’m more shocked about… yesterday or this

@liamgus1989: Streaky wasn’t ever going to get us promoted. 1 win in 5 and cannot prevent his team from been pumped 6-0 isn’t good enough for our club.

@DanielJenks89: Yesterday was a shocker. Personally I would have kept him on until the end of the season, but it has happened and we must move on from him quickly. KLD must have someone lined up

@hellensysafc: Good Luck to LJ wherever he goes brought some great football back to the S.O.L. Probs best for both to cut ties now. Reckon he’d be a good England U18’s/19’s etc. manager bring them through with that style.

@JaiOliver5: Wow didn’t see that happening

Watch out for any headbutts on the way out…. pic.twitter.com/tGZbFnam4L

— Ben (@BenH93_) January 30, 2022

I hear this man is looking for a job pic.twitter.com/SIFHQMxZXD

— Mup Murphy (@MupMurphy1) January 30, 2022