HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Michael Beale the head coach / manager of Sunderland reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Sunderland at John Smith's Stadium on February 14, 2024 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Sunderland stance on Michael Beale’s immediate future emerges after Birmingham defeat
A journalist has hinted at Sunderland’s stance on Michael Beale’s future following the defeat to Birmingham City.
Michael Beale is coming under increasing pressure again after Sunderland were beaten by former manager Tony Mowbray this weekend.
The Black Cats have won four of their 12 games since Beale replaced Mowbray before Christmas, and are now sat tenth in the Championship after back-to-back defeats.
The head coach also came under huge scrutiny after he was spotted seeming to snub Trai Hume’s handshake during yesterday’s trip to St Andrews, further pushing supporters to call for his sacking.
Sunderland are looking less and less likely to reach the play-offs this term, but the club don’t seem to be any closer to getting rid of Beale either.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman were already heavily criticised when they chose to appoint the 43-year-old in the first place, having jumped ship at QPR to endure an underwhelming spell at Rangers.
The board clearly see something in Beale though, and Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith has predicted them to stick by their man.
Speaking on the Echo’s YouTube channel, Smith said: “I do think that Michael Beale, if results don’t improve very quickly, is going to come under pressure. If you look at the table, I think the season is hanging by a thread.
“I think Sunderland will want to stick by Beale, whether we agree with that or not, they believe that he’s an excellent coach and in time the fruits of his work on the training ground are going to be seen.”
Will Kristjaan Speakman accept defeat on this one?
The decision to appoint Michael Beale in the first place was truly baffling, as it clearly didn’t take a genius to work out that it wouldn’t go very well.
