Sunderland have only just changed managers. But as pressure build on Michael Beale, another change could be on the horizon sooner than expected.
Sunderland sacked Tony Mowbray last month and replaced him with the 43-year-old Beale.
The former QPR and Rangers boss was an underwhelming and unexpected appointment, but the fans got behind him the best they could.
His opening game in charge was a 3-0 defeat at home to Coventry City and since then, fans ahve completely lost confidence in their current boss.
Last night’s 1-0 defeat at home to Hull City summed up Sunderland fans’ feelings towards Beale; no faith in the bland style of play and no faith that he’s the man to take the club forward.
Many are calling for the Sunderland owners to bite the bullet and make a change now before things get any worse.
And journalist Michael Graham thinks Mike Dodds could lead the club after Beale’s potential exit.
Michael Graham tips Mike Dodds to replace Beale for the remainder of the season
Dodds, 37, has been Sunderland’s interim boss on two separate occasions now, with the second being after Mowbray’s exit last month.
He’s currently working as no.2 to Beale; in seven games so far, Beale has two wins to his name, and in three games as interim boss, Dodds also oversaw two wins.
Sunderland beat both West Brom and Leeds United under Dodds’ watch
With Beale coming under growing pressure, Graham has suggested that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co will give Beale a bit more time, simply to ‘save face’, before potentially sacking him ‘before season card renewal packs go out’.
Graham also suggests that the board could give Dodds the job until the summer.
He posted on X:
Sunderland’s season is dead and buried, until they make Beale call
The league position right now paints an overly-positive picture for Sunderland.
Beale’s argument will be that the club remains in play-off contention; sitting in 8th and just two points outside the top six.
But going off recent form and last night’s performance in particular, Sunderland will do very well to remain in top six contention between now and May.
Sunderland then look like they’re heading towards a mid-table finish, which after their positive return to the Championship last time round and positive start to this season, would be a bitter disappointment.
That is unless they make a bold call on Beale now.
Sacking Beale and either giving the job to Dodds or giving it to someone like Will Still, who was Sunderland’s first-choice before Beale, would be smart, but maybe not financially savvy for the Black Cats.
Although reaching the Premier League is very much about building and setting down foundations, the Sunderland owners risk losing a lot of fan faith if they stick with Beale for much longer.
There’s every chance that Beale turns things around, of course, but right now there seems to be no chance of that happening.