19 February 2024 , 14:42
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Sunderland have parted ways with Michael Beale just eight weeks - and twelve matches - after his appointment.
The former Rangers boss was announced as Mackems boss at the end of December, but has overseen just four wins in the time since and has now left the Stadium of Light with immediate effect. The decision to hire Michael Beale following the sacking of Tony Mowbray was unpopular from the off, with the 43-year-old failing to win over fans on Wearside.
And his final match in charge of the Championship club came against his predecessor, with Mowbray's Birmingham City coming from behind to win 2-1 on Saturday. That game also saw Beale - who was sacked by Rangers in October 2023 - forced into an apology after he appeared to snub Trai Hume as he left the field of play at St. Andrew's.
Fans were furious after images showed Hume extending a hand out to his manager, only to receive nothing in return. Beale posted on social media after the match, saying: "Trai Hume is a fantastic player for our club. He gives everything for his teammates and the staff. I wasn't aware that I missed his handshake until being asked about it post game. I immediately went to see him to apologise.
"Trai passed a fitness test this morning to play the game and I cannot hold him in higher regard as a man or professional. He is an example of everything that is good about a young footballer and our team."
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And that wasn't the first time Beale was forced to respond to fan criticism, putting some of the stick he received down to his London accent. Referencing Mowbray, last month he said: “I didn’t sack him, did I?! They won two in nine before he left so are we making out it was perfect?
“I can’t change my accent or where I am from, you know what I mean, I am proud of where I am from. I haven’t worked in London for ten years, but obviously I am from South London. Six years in Liverpool, four and a half in Glasgow, a year in Brazil. My accent hasn’t changed!
Rangers sacked Beale in October (John Bradley/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)“I am happy to be criticised if we can’t score goals or repeatedly make mistakes, but that one is a bit off. So if it is about football, fine. But I feel I deserve a bit more respect because of my journey, which deserves that.
“I think you are throwing negativity at the the youngest team in the league, with one of the lowest budgets in the league. I inherited a team two points out of the play-offs. Now it is three. We have lost two tough games and I don’t think the performances were terrible. Anyone saying they are, I can’t get on board with that.
“So you are just throwing negativity at a football team who don’t deserve it. I think sometimes I could say less, because I could be less honest, but that is not the sort of guy I am.
“You get on with the work. I am not crying over it. I am a big boy. Personal things, when it goes personal they have lost straight away. If people want to criticise the way the team is playing I will take that.”
Beale leaves Sunderland 10th in the Championship table, but just four points off Coventry City in the final play-off spot. Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman, who just eight weeks described Beale as "an outstanding and progressive coach", will now begin the search for the club's third permanent manager this season.
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