Fan Letters: “The local press aren’t fighting the corner of the Sunderland fans”, says Tom Lynn

Dear Roker Report,

Yesterday at his pre-Bolton press conference, Simon Grayson said words to the effect that ‘obstacles’ have been placed in front of him that he never knew were there before he agreed to take the managers job at Sunderland.

I apologise in advance if I’m wrong, but not one journalist present asked him what he meant by this. Why did they not confront him and ask him to explain further? Surely such a statement from our constantly excuse making figurehead is worthy of further exploration?

This type of statement must be addressed, surely?

Otherwise journalists may as well be told, ‘here’s a pre prepared press release from Simon, just go and print it as no pertinent questions are allowed as Sunderland’s wider fan base have no right to understand what the hell is going on at their club.’

The national media in our area who cover the North East are predominantly made up of self-confessed Newcastle United fans - Hardy, Caulkin (Times), Bird (Mirror), Hope (Daily Mail - worked for NUFC at one stage), Edwards (from the Telegraph, Orient but has definite affection for the Mags) and there is no doubt whatsoever that if Newcastle were in the mess we are in now (i.e. almost spiralling out of control to the third tier, led by an inept manager) there would be acres of media coverage asking important questions of those in charge on an almost daily basis.

Unfortunately for us, they are not fighting the corner of our fans and in some cases might privately find SAFC’s current predicament highly amusing.

The only people seemingly asking what the hell is going on right now at the dysfunctional Stadium of Light are Sunderland fans themselves. We have a historically famous, proud club with a loyal fan base dying on its arse right now due to third rate, misguided management at all levels and if the local media refuse to put real pressure on the club’s decision makers, then what do they exist for?

The fans of SAFC deserve far better representation. Anyone disagree?

Tom Lynn

Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Well - tonight fills me with dread.

I haven't felt like this since that last home game against Barnsley that sent us into the relegation play-off with Gillingham, and we all know what happened next.

I'm sick to death of people saying we shouldn't be this or shouldn't be that. We haven't had a great team since the 1930s. Barring the odd promotion, the 73 cup win, the 85 league cup defeat, 92 cup defeat and our latest league cup defeat, what have we had to get excited about?

Like I've said before, we're down to our die hard support of 20,000 to 30,000 and if we lose tonight it will drop even more.

I remember standing in the Roker end when we only had 8500 to 9000 at games. What we have to realise is that we can't do a great deal, the majority of us have season tickets already paid for.

So if we don't go, it does not affect gate recipts. The one thing we could do is not buy any thing from the food and beer stalls. What about staying on the concourse until after 6 minutes, or all stay there till 5 mins into the second half depending on how the game is going? Just a thought for us.

Gail Wyatt