Tony Mowbray: Sunderland sack head coach after 15 months in charge - BBC Sport
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Tony Mowbray: Sunderland sack head coach after 15 months in charge

Last updated on .From the section Sunderlandcomments1159

Tony Mowbray during this last home game as Sunderland head coach
Tony Mowbray lost his final home game as Sunderland boss when his side were beaten by Huddersfield Town last week

Championship side Sunderland have sacked head coach Tony Mowbray after 15 months in charge.

The Black Cats have won just two of their past nine league games and have slipped to ninth, having made the play-offs last season.

Mowbray, 60, took over at Sunderland in August last year after Alex Neil left the club to join Stoke City.

"This was a difficult decision to make," sporting director Kristjaan Speakman told the club website.external-link

"But we remain loyal to our ambition and our strategy, and felt that now was the right moment to take this step.

"We are now focused on identifying the right candidate and we will continue to support our coaching team and players throughout the interim period."

Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said Mowbray would "always be welcome" at Sunderland.

He added: "As custodians of our great club, we believe in our long-term strategy that we hope will ensure sustainability and success for SAFC.

"Central to that approach is a relentless demand for a high performance culture to be implemented throughout the club and the development of a strong playing identity that you, our loyal supporters, can all be proud of."

Mowbray's long-time assistant, Mark Venus, has also left the club, with first-team coach Mike Dodds placed in temporary charge.

Sunderland, who play one of Mowbray's former clubs West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, were fourth in the table after beating Watford on 4 October.

But last weekend's 1-1 draw at Millwall made it five games without a win on their travels, with Jack Clarke's late penalty their first away goal in four matches.

Despite slipping to ninth, Sunderland remain only three points off a play-off spot.

After replacing Neil early last season, Mowbray guided the Black Cats to a sixth-placed finish in their first season back in the Championship.

Although they beat Luton 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in the home leg of the play-off semi-final, they lost 2-0 at Kenilworth Road to the Hatters, who went on to win promotion to the Premier League by beating Coventry City on penalties at Wembley.

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1159 comments

  • Comment posted by thefidiot, at 22:31 4 Dec 2023

    9th! 3 points outside the playoff places. In the one of the most notoriously competitive leagues in the sport! Crackers.

    • Reply posted by Onlythetruth, at 22:43 4 Dec 2023

      Onlythetruth replied:
      Not sure if this is the right move but would be great to see both gordie clubs battling it out in the top division again

  • Comment posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 22:32 4 Dec 2023

    Best manager Sunderland have had in years, and they sack him. Sorry to see you go Tony.

    • Reply posted by FORTHKNUCKLE, at 23:43 4 Dec 2023

      FORTHKNUCKLE replied:
      Should get on the blower to the fella about to get the sack in South Yorkshire, could do worse

  • Comment posted by mackemman, at 22:38 4 Dec 2023

    Ridiculous, pathetic decision.
    Tony M is a good man, a proper football man, brought the young lads on. Poorer club without him
    Good luck to you fella

    • Reply posted by myrd, at 22:43 4 Dec 2023

      myrd replied:
      Totally agree, one of my favourite managers at Albion

  • Comment posted by zctjjofd, at 22:37 4 Dec 2023

    Youngest team in championship, no budget. Board didn't buy him a striker, we play lovely football for most part and a few points off play offs. Got us into playoffs last year. I think its madness me. Good luck Tony. Our board is a shambles. Bet we get smashed in the Derby now too :(

    • Reply posted by simba, at 23:00 4 Dec 2023

      simba replied:
      Aye shocking decision. Dunno about the derby though as I can’t see us fielding our best players so you might nick it. Quite sad to be fair as the derby games were always the biggest games of the year but the gap is so big right now that we now have completely different priorities. Genuinely hope you do well this season mate despite such a shocking call sacking Mowbray.

  • Comment posted by Andy o, at 22:29 4 Dec 2023

    A joke of a decision in 9th with one smallest budgets what do these owners expect

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 01:28 5 Dec 2023

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Same as what all owners (and fans) expect, instant success.

  • Comment posted by McClelland, at 22:41 4 Dec 2023

    Len Shackleton was Correct when he left the chapter of his book about What Chairmen and Owners know about Football...completely BLANK..

    • Reply posted by Harkerboy, at 23:50 4 Dec 2023

      Harkerboy replied:
      I thought that was Brian Clough.

  • Comment posted by Dreddy Tennis, at 22:42 4 Dec 2023

    Mixed about this as a Middlesbrough fan. In a way it's fun to see Sunderland bin a manager who's done a very good job for them on a limited budget, for basically just having one rough patch.

    But Mowbray doesn't deserve it, and I doubt mackems are that impressed either.

    • Reply posted by Dave, at 07:18 5 Dec 2023

      Dave replied:
      Bring him back to BORO as an advisor, he can bring a few of the promising young lads with him.

  • Comment posted by lefthandofdarkness, at 22:34 4 Dec 2023

    What a joke knee jerk reaction. He was doing as good a job as he could with a very young squad. I suspect there's been a disagreement with the powers above over January transfers ( they are crying out for a goalscorer). Hope theres a decent replacement in the wings. From an NUFC fan in peace.

    • Reply posted by cb, at 08:07 5 Dec 2023

      cb replied:
      Sheffield utd job???

  • Comment posted by aidan, at 22:33 4 Dec 2023

    A good football man. Overachieved with the squad and budget he has....I wish him well. He has bags of integrity, sadly lacking in the idiot, clueless DOF and Board...

    • Reply posted by sparky, at 22:44 4 Dec 2023

      sparky replied:
      Entirely agree should be Speakman signing the dole, What a lousey decision

  • Comment posted by Howard, at 22:37 4 Dec 2023

    As a Blackburn fan I have a lot of time and respect for TM. He proved a point last season getting to the play offs at our expense and, as-it-stands is three points of repeating that this season. Short sighted decision.

    • Reply posted by Tom H, at 07:38 5 Dec 2023

      Tom H replied:
      Rovers fan too - totally agree, a really stupid decision.

  • Comment posted by Howard, at 22:33 4 Dec 2023

    Awful. Decent bloke who didn’t deserve this. There better be a ready made lined up appointment. If this is the start of weeks of identifying ‘the right candidate’ I despair. Thanks Tony . Feel sick for you.

    • Reply posted by finnharpsman, at 00:07 5 Dec 2023

      finnharpsman replied:
      I think you can expect an announcement appointing P Heckingbottom by Thursday at latest.

  • Comment posted by odjo, at 22:30 4 Dec 2023

    stupid decision

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 01:43 5 Dec 2023

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Three managers from Sunderland, Swansea and Sheffield United sacked or about to be sacked within hours of each another. Should the managers of the other clubs starting with the letter 'S' be worried?

  • Comment posted by Lady Godivas Horse, at 22:42 4 Dec 2023

    Cov fan here …
    Hold your head high Tony Mowbray …

    • Reply posted by BeeBeeSea, at 05:21 5 Dec 2023

      BeeBeeSea replied:
      It will be Robbins next

  • Comment posted by Vince, at 22:32 4 Dec 2023

    I am not a Sunderland supporter.

    This has taken me by surprise.

    I thought he was doing a good job with a sleeping giant.

    • Reply posted by Ichy Nojo, at 01:22 5 Dec 2023

      Ichy Nojo replied:
      The Mackems aren't asleep they're in a coma 🤣

  • Comment posted by David, at 22:44 4 Dec 2023

    Why oh why oh why would they do that!!!. This feels a lot like a John eustace situation that they feel like a big club destined for the premier league. How naive, Sunderland need to remember two years ago they were in league one. Change doesn’t happen overnight. They should have stuck with mowbray as now they probably will drop down the table. Fools

    • Reply posted by Ichy Nojo, at 01:24 5 Dec 2023

      Ichy Nojo replied:
      It's their thought of facing the Toon Army in the 3rd round 🤣

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 22:35 4 Dec 2023

    Stupid decision, the fans and players love him. They sold his only striker and replaced him with a few kids who can't hit a barn door.

    • Reply posted by AWC, at 06:43 5 Dec 2023

      AWC replied:
      They can have Hylton from us. We'll send him up gift wrapped and everything...

  • Comment posted by sleeps8, at 22:41 4 Dec 2023

    So disappointing. Our football has been so watchable recently. And I'd rather spend an eternity in the Championship playing attractive entertaining football than being an (at best) also-ran in the Greedy League. Gutted.

    • Reply posted by And I said, at 09:43 5 Dec 2023

      And I said replied:
      They might as well give a chance to his brother, Guy Mowbray.

  • Comment posted by McClelland, at 22:37 4 Dec 2023

    Genuinely sorry to hear that...... Not bad for a Smoggie and certainly developed our young players during his tenure....Guess his hands were tied, having to play our young Strikers who clearly were not up to the standard required yet..................All the Best Tony... and thanks for last Season, Awesome Football.

  • Comment posted by Bjorks Chauffeur, at 22:32 4 Dec 2023

    Pathetic behaviour from a shambles of a board.

  • Comment posted by Bread Pitt, at 22:36 4 Dec 2023

    Crazy decision. This will come back to kick the fans in the teeth……once again!

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