An update on the contract situations of Sunderland midfielders Jack Rodwell and Lee Cattermole

A clause in Jack Rodwell’s contract prevented the player from taking a pay cut due to the club’s relegation to the Championship - but the clause only prevented his wages being reduced if the club were to gain immediate promotion back into the Premier League.

As we not only failed to gain promotion but suffered the embarrassment of double relegations, his wages will drop by 40%. Unfortunately that 40% decrease will still see him earn more than £40,000 per week in League One, which will make him the highest paid player in the division’s history.

As that is an unsustainable amount for a club in the third tier - even for a player who would be contributing on the pitch - a solution had to be found that would be beneficial to both the club and player.

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Thankfully, Roker Report understand that both sides are hopeful of the situation being resolved in the near future. Talks between the club and Rodwell’s representatives are due this week, and with the player being very sensible about the need from both sides to move on, it’s hoped that we may see the player finally leave the club.

It’s understood that Rodwell would like to move to a club in the MLS, so the need to resolve his lengthy dispute with Sunderland is one that he’d like to put to bed soon in order for both sides to settle his contract amicably.

Although we may see Rodwell leave, a similar situation may arise in the form of Lee Cattermole.

Cattermole is keen to leave the club after a difficult few seasons for both club and player, but with the 30-year-old previously signing a deal which could see him stay until 2021 - a contract agreed with then CEO Margaret Bryne - it may be a more difficult situation than the Rodwell one, due to the former Manchester City man only have one-year remaining on his deal.

With the player and his agent - who, coincidentally, is Margaret Byrne - keen on getting every penny he is entitled to over the length of his contract, discussions that will see the player leave the Stadium of Light may be slow-going.

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