POWER HOUR
Time is right for glory says Max
MAX POWER did not enjoy Sunderland’s soap opera – but believes Phil Parkinson will help Wearside find its smile once more.
The Black Cats ace has packed plenty into his 18 months at the club, what with twin Wembley heartache and a bit-part in the second instalment of ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die.’
But the midfielder, 27, says the club’s new boss is showing them that there is plenty to be grateful for at the Stadium of Light as the North East side mount their third attempt to leave League One.
Their first ended in a last-gasp defeat to Charlton. The second finished when lockdown ended their campaign prematurely with Parkinson’s side just outside the play-offs.
But Power, speaking at the launch of the new EFL campaign, says the manager had been busy reminding everyone that there is plenty to be grateful for at the Stadium of Light.
He said: “It’s been tough for the supporters. Suffering back-to-back relegations and then not bouncing back is a hard one for them.
“But we are smiling again. What the manager has instilled into the lads is, ‘Look, you’re being paid to play – it’s a great job’.
“And sometimes with all the hysteria on things like social media, that is forgotten. His message is, ‘It’s a game, just go and enjoy yourself.’.
“It’s understandable because he’s come from a situation at Bolton that sounded horrendous, where people weren’t being paid. For us, we are representing a great club with great facilities and it’s something we should embrace.”
Viewers on Netflix were able to wallow in Sunderland’s pain as they attempted to pull the club clear of danger over two fly-onthe-wall documentaries.
Power was on the outside looking in during the first but was present when t he c ameras were given full access second time around.
He said: “If I’m being honest, I wasn’t a big fan of it. There had been a full season of filming when I turned up.
“With the second series, I felt I didn’t want to feature. I was reluctant to get involved.
“I didn’t so much want to go under the radar but it’s hard enough playing at a club which is playing in a league where it is expected to win every week but with the added pressure of the cameras being around and your every move being scrutinised. “I felt it was unfair on the former manager Jack Ross as well. I wouldn’t be a big fan of it but from a neutral point of view, I get it – you want to see what’s going on. “Having said all of that, it so nearly ended with the fairytale ending, didn’t it?”
Power has tasted promotion twice from League One with Wigan Athletic and believes he can make it three.
He said: “If I look back at my two seasons, it could have turned out differently had a couple of things gone in our favour. The first one would have been if we had kept hold of Josh Maja. If he had stayed, I think we’d have got over the line. “And last season, Bailey Wright came in. We had a settled t eam, k e e pi ng c l e a n sheets and would end up nicking games one-nil. “He picked up an injury away to Oxford and it disrupted matters for us. He’s joined permanently now and hopefully we can hit the ground running.”