Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray remains on the chopping block despite yesterday’s 2-1 win over Rotherham United due to heightened tensions behind the scenes, according to Football Insider.
The Black Cats picked up their first victory of the 2023/24 campaign on Saturday afternoon as Jobe Bellingham’s brace was enough to see off the valiant Millers and potentially ease some pressure off Mowbray in the dugout.
Sunderland had an appalling start to the season, losing three out of three, including a defeat on penalties in the first round of the EFL Cup to League Two side Crewe Alexandra.
The former Celtic head coach guided Sunderland to the playoff semifinals last year, a surprising feat considering the North East club were newly promoted to the Championship.
However, as per Fabrizio Romano, the Sunderland board had lined up Italian coach Francesco Farioli to replace Mowbray in the dugout, even before achieving a surprise playoff finish.
This led former England international Carlton Palmer to label the rumours as ‘disrespectful’ [quotes via FootballLeagueWorld]:
“He’s done a magnificent job in the circumstances, so to talk of people taking his job at this point when they still have a chance of getting promotion is disrespectful, I really do feel that.”
Now, it seems as though the rapport between Mowbray and the board is at breaking point due to transfer disagreements and results, as reported by Football Insider, and the 59-year-old is fighting for his job at the Stadium of Light.
Writer’s View
Perhaps Mowbray had his nose put out of joint when reports came out that Sunderland were talking to Farioli behind his back despite doing such an incredible job with a young squad last season.
The experienced football manager’s heroics last term should have bought him enough time to steer the ship around, but it seems as though the board have only ever viewed him as a stop-gap appointment.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, though. Blackburn Rovers know that more than anyone.