Michael Beale lost Sunderland dressing room with players ‘particularly unhappy’ at what he did after shock defeat
SUNDERLAND sacked Michael Beale after he lost the Stadium of Light dressing room.
And it is claimed the players were “particularly unhappy” with his conduct after defeats.
Beale, 43, only arrived in the north-east on December 18, replacing Tony Mowbray.
But he lost half of his 12 matches in charge – including his last two away at Huddersfield and then Birmingham, ironically managed by Mowbray.
However, talkSPORT report the squad’s disgust at Beale boiled over after one particular defeat.
That is because Beale is understood to have hauled the players in to do extra training following the loss.
Incredibly, though, the manager did not go into the training ground and took the day off, prompting fury among the team.
Black Cats fans were already demanding Beale’s sacking at the weekend when he ruthlessly snubbed Trai Hume on the touchline at St Andrew’s.
Hume put his arm out to shake his boss’ hand after being subbed – but was left hanging by the unpopular gaffer.
Less than 48 hours later, though, Beale got the boot just two months into his two-and-a-half-year contract.
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The former Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa coach – who was sacked by Rangers in October – left the club tenth in the Championship table, four points off the play-offs.
Assistant Mike Dodds will take interim charge for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
Earlier in his tenure, Beale had gone on a spectacular rant about his position as Sunderland chief.
He said: “I replaced a popular manager but I didn’t sack him, did I? And he won two in nine before he left, so are we making out it was all perfect?
“People didn’t want me here in the first place.
“You can say afterwards it’s about style or this and that, but let’s cut to the chase, people didn’t want me.
“The reality is that there wasn’t a feel-good factor about me coming in.
“It’s fine, I’m not crying over it, I’m a big boy, but when people are personal they’ve lost straight away.
“Look, I can’t change my accent or where I’m from. I’m proud of where I’m from.”
There was also chaos in the recent January transfer window as Alex Pritchard refused to play as he forced a move to Mowbray’s Birmingham.
Michael Beale's Sunderland spell
Appointed: December 18, 2023
Sacked: February 19, 2024
Matches: 12
Wins: 4
Draws: 2
Defeats: 6
Goals scored: 13
Goals conceded: 16
Win %: 33.3