An interesting development on Michael Beale’s exit from Sunderland has emerged.
It was reported this afternoon that Sunderland had parted ways with Michael Beale following their 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City at the weekend.
The 43-year-old was only appointed as Tony Mowbray’s successor in December, but managed only four wins in 12 games before he was sent packing.
Sunderland fans had been calling for his sacking for weeks now after a terrible run of form, but it had seemed unlikely that the board would accept defeat in their unusual appointment so quickly.
However, reports have now claimed that an announcement on his departure is expected imminently, while Keith Downie has reported that Mike Dodds will take charge until the summer.
While many would assume Beale’s horrific tenure on Wearside, that ended with heavy criticism on him for appearing to snub Trai Hume’s handshake at the weekend, would conclude with his sacking, that may not be the case.
According to Sunderland Echo journalist James Copley, Beale’s exit may have instead been a mutual decision.
He wrote on X: “Thought initially it was a sacking but hearing it may well have been a mutual convo/decision.”
Who is to blame for the last few months at Sunderland?
Michael Beale has been slaughtered in his brief spell at Sunderland, but he can at least take a tiny bit of credit for realising it is time to leave the club, rather than trying to prove himself and only knocking us further down the table.
I would like to think the club would have forced him out the door either way, but Kristjaan Speakman appears to be an extremely hard man to read after the number of controversial decisions he has made.
Beale will likely struggle to get any job in the Championship and above – that is unless someone is daft enough to fall for his apparent interview skills.
Though I would argue that our board come off a lot worse than he does, as they were stupid enough to bring him in in the first place.
Beale was only doing his job, albeit poorly, but he was always going to jump at the chance to join us. Speakman shouldn’t have fallen for it, just like a majority of our fanbase didn’t.
At least there shouldn’t be as much pressure on the club to find a replacement now if Mike Dodds takes the reins until the summer, giving Speakman months to find the ideal candidate. If he still fails with that, then I think it is time he left too.