Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SUNDERLAND REBOOT
Despite years of decline, the Black Cats have sold season tickets in League One and new players promise a brighter future
We have to cleanse this club. This is the moment for a reset with people without the baggage of past seasons. And if we set goals high and achieve them cult heroes emerge when a team comes back from its lowest ebb
THE seats have turned red again at the Stadium of Light.
Out with the jaded, faded pink, the revamp aided by an army of loyal, enthusiastic Sunderland fans, searching for a fresh start. Already the ground looks more vibrant (above).
As a symbol of regeneration it is a small but visible one compared to the financial nightmare inherited and being worked through by new owner Stewart Donald.
Once mighty Sunderland are now a League One club, and hope they have bottomed out after two consecutive relegations.
Despite the misery of the past two years, a staggering 22,000 season tickets have been sold. The mission, amid such grand surroundings but lowly league position? New keeper, Scotland international Jon Mclaughlin, sums it up perfectly: “We have to cleanse this club. This is the moment for a reset. Have people here without the baggage of past seasons.
“And if we can set high goals and achieve them... cult heroes emerge when a team comes back from its lowest ebb.”
On the pitch, intelligent new boss Jack
Ross (right), is “creating positivity”. Off it, Donald is trying to offload the highest earners, some on £40,000 a week, a hangover of previous misguided transfers.
He needs to find millions for legacy transfer payments due next month, as well as build a promotion squad with new players on no more than £4,000 a week. Mclaughlin explained: “You have to make a conscious effort to clean the slate or you go on a downward spiral.
“It’s important we’ve made that transition now. There are lots of new players and a new management team. It hopefully will cleanse that bad feeling, that doom and gloom around those players.
“We don’t come with that baggage, that personal weight on our shoulders. Hopefully we can turn the trend and get it back on winning ways.
“There’s pressure though because of the size of the club and the division we’re in. It’s not easy to find your way out of it.
“We could feel in pre-season games that the place needs a fresh start. If there’s not an automatic mercurial performance it gives fans the same apprehension they’ve suffered for several seasons. It won’t automatically happen because you have 22,000-plus crowds, or have thrown some money at it, or because you’ve the biggest wage bill. You have to work hard at it.”
Mclaughlin has form helping dressing rooms regenerate. He added: “There is a great chance to be part of the rebuilding. Bringing a feelgood factor back.
“When I was at Bradford, we were in League Two. We had promotions, cup finals. Leave the club in a better position.
“Burton, joined in League Two, left when we were in the Championship. There’s a winning mentality and you take it into the next division and if we do that it can snowball.”
Can Sunderland take heart from other giants who fell to the third tier?
Mclaughlin added: “Massive clubs tumbled before and had to do a reset. Wolves are now moving in to the
Premier
League again. I played against them in
League One.
“Leeds, Sheffield United, same. Big clubs, huge potential finding themselves at real highs, then quickly got on a slope and haven’t been able to get off it.
“Sunderland had a few years avoiding relegation and then slipped. Last season you thought they’ll get out of trouble, but these leagues are very difficult.
“League One is unique. Lots know how to play at this level, how to win games or not lose. Mixing quality with players who know the league – that blend will help us.
“It’s been a positive time with a lot of change – through the entire club. Now we have to change the results.”