Ian Harte has declared he “cannot believe” that Sunderland have decided to sack manager Tony Mowbray, ahead of Leeds United’s clash against the Black Cats next week. Sunderland sit in ninth.
Mowbray clocked up 65 games as manager of Sunderland, joining them in the summer of 2022 and then guiding the Wearside club to the play-off semi-finals last season – losing to Luton after two legs.
An incredible achievement given the young squad at his disposal, the lack of funds and that Sunderland had only just been promoted from League One to the Championship. Form this term, questionable.
But, they still sit in ninth. Just three points off the play-offs. It is unclear if something else has happened to lead to Sunderland’s sacking of Mowbray, but the ex-Boro and Celtic boss has now been sacked.
Ex-Leeds defender Harte, who is the agent of Sunderland duo Jack Clarke and Niall Huggins who both of course started at Elland Road, took to Twitter following the announcement – underlining his shock.
Ian Harte reacts as Leeds’ next week opponents sack manager
Leeds travel to Blackburn on the weekend but in six days’ time, we face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. It is unclear if Sunderland will have a new manager in place by that point – one to keep an eye on.
But given it is such a young squad and plenty of talents had a good relationship with Mowbray, it is one that might require time for the players to gel and warm to the next man in the Sunderland dugout.
It may be something that Leeds can take advantage of next week. Either, facing a team in transition without a manager – or coming up against a manager that will not have won his players over, just yet.
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