Sunderland’s headlong descent and the destruction of hopes, dreams and passion

Abigail with Barry and Martin at PN; she saw us avoid defeat there

Let it be made clear that grandparents cannot be held responsible for what happens, provided lawful, between their sons and daughters and their grandchildren.

So Barry Emmerson must not feel personally culpable because his son, Martin, took 10-year-old Abigail, known to Salut! Sunderland readers, to her first Sunderland game after a recent dip in enthusiasm. The game Abigail chose was Villa at home … she describes the experience here while walking home with her dad after the score went to 0-3. And now Barry, responding to Pete Sixsmith’s eloquent portrayal of death barely warmed up, tells of the anguish it left him feeling


It will be many years, Pete, before we will see any positivity from the club that is our life.

I have in all my years of following Sunderland never felt such a feeling of despair.

From the heady exciting days of Quinny and Roy Keane and the fight to promotion from bottom of the league to now is like another life.

The fallout from Mr Short’s lack of respect for Niall and Roy’s superior football knowledge and running of the club saw the start of the long slide to the horrendous situation the club is in now.

Many managers later, many behind-the-scenes coaching staff later and the decision to make an unknown agent Fanti in charge of all incoming player recruitment has caused this disaster. How can someone run a successful business by not being there and not only that but place people in charge who have as much football knowledge and experience as yourself which is very little?

Which other industry can be handed before the commencement of business £90m for nothing for season after season and end up in position of near bankruptcy by squandering all these riches?

It is disgraceful. And Ellis Short has destroyed the hopes and dreams and consequently the passion of a proud region of over 300,000 people. I am crying with rage at the disgraceful performances of these players and the sheer inability to be able to do anything about it.

* Barry asked me to reproduce the above, which originally appeared at Facebook. Earlier postings there …

* I remember stating at the beginning of the season when I saw the new strip that we looked like a pub team. Well after tonight we are worse than many a local pub team. We are a disgrace

** No end to this. It’s a disgrace how this great club has been allowed to sink to this level. The effect on our city is catastrophic, business wise and mentally. Ellis Short should be ashamed of himself for going missing and destroying our club. I feel like crying a huge part of my life is being destroyed before my eyes

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