BENNETT: IT’S SCARY HOW FAR CATS HAVE FALLEN
CLUB LEGEND HITS OUT AT ‘FRIGHTENING’ SUNDERLAND DEMISE AND WARNS NO CLUB TOO GOOD TO GO DOWN
Legend Gary Bennett has hit out at Sunderland’s recent demise and warned no club is too big to go down.
The former captain – who made more than 350 appearances for Sunderland – says it is “frightening” how far the Black Cats have fallen in such a short space of time, labelling Sunderland a “laughing stock”.
Managerless Sunderland are rock bottom of the Championship with a third of the season gone.
Today marks two weeks since Simon Grayson was sacked with the club yet to appoint his successor, the ninth manager in six years.
It paints for a bleak picture on Wearside.
“You don’t like to see the club you love go the way that it is,” said Bennett,
“The club is so flat. They need a spark from somewhere.
“It has got to the point where it is embarrassing talking about where Sunderland football club is, it has become a laughing stock.
“Right throughout the country - you don’t even have to be a football fan look where Sunderland are, rock bottom. It is frightening.
“No club is too big to go down, it is all about results and we are stuck in a bad habit of losing games.
“When you are losing games confidence is very low and you are looking around for that experience and responsibility.
“Have we got enough experience and responsibility to get us out the current situation? I don’t think we have.”
Aitor Karanka, Ally McCoist, Phil Neville and Paul Heckingbottom are all contenders to replace Grayson but Bennett says it has reached the stage where it doesn’t matter who takes charge - just start winning some games.
Sunderland have won one Championship game all season.
Bennett said: “I don’t like anybody to get the sack but you are judged on results.
“If you are going to sack somebody then you have to make sure you have somebody in place to takeover straight away.
“We thought Simon Grayson was the right man, when he first spoke he said the right things about getting that connection with supporters and understanding what the club was all about. It just didn’t happen for him.
“It needs somebody involved who has either been at the club, has an affiliation or understands the club.
“One time there would be a lot more excitement around who the next man-
“No club is too big to go down, it is all about results and we are stuck in a bad habit of losing games. GARY BENNETT