Our club needs a touch of magic

Like many fans I’m feeling in the doldrums at this moment. Yes, all being rubber-stamped the club could soon have new owners and a new manager too before long. But are we really kidding ourselves that anything is going to dramatically change? That we find the missing ingredient that has seemingly alluded us for the best part of 3 years (or in truth closer to 5 years) the ability to win football matches, certainly enough to climb out of this division? I doubt it, Black Cats fans don’t know what to believe.

‘A takeover’ they cry, or just readjusting who owns the shares with very little change in the direction or motivation of the club?

The entire club needs a lift, a direction and a leader! Few names linked with the vacant hotseat are stirring thoughts of those unforgettable nights that still bring a shiver to your spine. Or thoughts that our nightmare locked in this tomb of a division with all the other dead men of the English football wilderness is likely to be in sight.

Photo by John Early/Getty Images

I doubt I’m alone in this feeling. Watching this never ending groundhog day of League One snakes and ladders being played out by a rudderless bunch of charlatans posing as footballers. Marshalled by a boss with all the tactical ineptitude of Mike Bassett’s limited understudy with all the charisma and passion of a wet fish standing bereft on the touchline waiting for his P45 by text. That isn’t going to end with this next appointment if attitudes at the top don’t change fast!

Such is football, few will agree on the same name for the job. But show ambition, the fans were critised for not understanding business a little while ago. Well, don’t assume you know anything about football and appoint a manager that does, not another bloody yes man who agrees with everything Methven or Donald says. If that’s how the interviewee comes across, we know they’re the wrong guy for the job. Finances are tight, we understand that. But that will only start moving in the right direction once we’re out of this division.

Matches are not won on spreadsheets, they’re won with passion, organisation, togetherness and leadership! All of which have been thin on the ground for too long at this proud but diminished football club. The passion is still there, as a once great boss said, ‘I didn’t bring the magic. It’s always been here... I just came back to find it.’

Forget the magic carpet ride this time. We need a bold statement and someone to rub the lamp to let the Sunderland genie out with a bang... we know he’s in there!