LOYAL CURTIS MAY BE A HUGE GAMBLE

On December 30, 1991, Sunderland sacked Denis Smith. They were 17th in the old Second Division. Malcolm crosby, his assistant, took over as caretaker while a replacement was sought. That task became harder as crosby guided Sunderland past Port Vale, Oxford, West Ham, chelsea, norwich, and to the FA cup final. crosby was a Sunderland fan, who had stood on the Wembley terraces for the famous 1-0 win over Leeds, and supporters clamoured for his permanent appointment. On April 29, the board caved. crosby was delighted, so too the locals, but Sunderland’s rivals were most pleased of all. Sunderland finished that season in 18th place. crosby did not improve them and was considered a soft appointment, an able assistant but not the main man. He was sacked the following season with Sunderland 17th, again. Similarly romantic impulses may be at work with the promotion of Alan curtis at Swansea. He is a long-serving club loyalist, and former assistant to Michael Laudrup and Garry Monk. Yet Swansea’s rivals will note the club were 15th on the day Monk was sacked, and after curtis’s five games in charge are 17th. Monk was averaging 0.93 points per game; curtis 1. And while crosby at least got Sunderland to Wembley, Swansea were the FA cup’s big third round casualty, knocked out by Oxford on Sunday. What at first glance appears a level-headed compromise — give it to the company man — can sometimes prove the biggest gamble of all.