The plight of Sunderland AFC has been seen by all on Netflix’s documentary Sunderland Till I Die. Millions watched the club following their relegation from the Premier League embark on a campaign in the Championship that proved disastrous. Under the tenures of Simon Grayson and Chris Coleman, Sunderland was relegated to the third tier of English football for only the second time in their history. But a club the size of the Black Cats would surely bounce back at the first attempt, right?
Pain In League One
New owners Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven promised a new dawn at the Stadium of Light and made a seemingly bright appointment by hiring Jack Ross following a successful stint at St Mirren. The second series of Sunderland Till I Die highlighted the early promise as Josh Maja lit up League One, while veteran Aiden McGeady dominated the division. However, Maja’s departure and an injury to McGeady ended their hopes of automatic promotion before a last-minute defeat to Charlton Athletic in the playoffs broke Sunderland’s heart.
Ross was sacked after an underwhelming start to their second season in League One. Owners Donald and Methven lost interest in the project, while new manager Phil Parkinson struggled to build a team worthy of a top-two finish, casting McGeady to the reserves after a bust-up. Following an eight-place finish in the 2019/20 season and stuttering performances, Parkinson was relieved of his duties in a final act from Donald. The club was sold to 23-year-old billionaire Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, who installed former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson on the sideline along with placing a new structure in place behind the scenes.
Johnson appeared to have found a tune out of his new side, inspiring Charlie Wyke into action in the final third along with calling in McGeady from the cold. Sunderland put themselves in with a great chance of automatic promotion with 10 games remaining. However, familiar failings cost the Black Cats, winning only one of their final 10 matches. A place in the playoffs beckoned, but a 2-0 defeat in the first leg to Lincoln City put them under severe pressure. Early goals in the second leg from Ross Stewart and Wyke levelled the tie, but Tom Hopper notched a crucial strike for the Imps to send them to Wembley on a 3-2 aggregate score.
What Does the Future Hold?
Sunderland has already turned the page and released several players ahead of the summer. Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and head of recruitment Stuart Harvey hold the key for perhaps the biggest transfer window in the club’s history. If they are able to nail their transfer business, Johnson will have a talented young squad at his disposal.
Failure could see Sunderland remain in the third tier for a long time. Other titans of English football have endured similar fates, but none more so than Leeds United, who spent three seasons in the division. Their rise back to the Premier League is proof that Sunderland is more than capable of returning to the topflight. It all hinges on whether Johnson can produce the results required and the club recruits top talent from around League One and perhaps even abroad.
McGeady has been offered a new deal at the Stadium of Light, and at the age of 35, he is still a leading light in the third tier. Wyke’s future hangs in the balance amid interest from Championship teams after his prolific season in front of goal.
With or without the duo, Sunderland will remain one of the leading contenders for promotion with the best betting sites in the industry, collated at Asiabet.org. Their keen eye for the companies that provide their customers with value and a diverse range of betting markets considered, a bet on Sunderland may be seen as a risk given their recent failings. But the Black Cats have never finished outside of the top eight in League One. So, they could be a sure wager for the playoffs at the least.
Can Johnson Deliver?
Johnson will be under immense pressure to deliver success after the disappointment of the last campaign. He was working with the squads of both Ross and Parkinson, along with a litany of defensive injuries. But the 39-year-old now has a chance to overhaul the entire Sunderland squad and start from scratch despite the absence of promotion on his CV, and his failure to work his previous clubs into position. Johnson also notably struggled to push Bristol City into the top six of the Championship, where he became notorious for late-season collapses.
Sunderland’s injury woes may have been a mitigating circumstance last season, but a second failure will not be tolerated. Johnson needs to cultivate an identity with the Black Cats that has been sorely lacking in their League One tenure to date.
Sunderland also faces stiff competition from the likes of Ipswich Town and Portsmouth, who will be reinvigorated for the new term. Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, and Wycombe Wanderers will also present challenges after being relegated from the Championship. It’s going to take a special effort from all involved at the Stadium of Light to break through the barrier to the second tier and potentially beyond back to the Premier League. Their story will certainly be worth following here at dailywaffle.co.uk as they attempt a meteoric rise back to prominence in English football.