Sunderland sacked manager Steve Bruce yesterday after chairman Ellis Short said results were “simply not good enough”.

The north-east club’s 2-1 home defeat by fellow strugglers Wigan on Saturday left Sunderland 16th in the Premier League and just two points above the relegation zone.

Former Manchester United defender Bruce joined the Black Cats from Wigan before the 2009/10 season and struggled to win the affection of some Sunderland fans who resented his boyhood support of local rivals Newcastle United.

But, despite some of the taunts aimed at Bruce at the weekend by angry fans, Dallas-based businessman Short said his was not a knee-jerk decision.

“This has been a difficult time for everyone at Sunderland and is not a situation that any of us envisaged or expected to be in,” said Short in a statement released on Sunderland’s official website.

“It is my job to act in the best interests of our club at all times and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision I have taken lightly.”

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