Lee Camp suffered relegation from the Championship during his dreadful spell as Sunderland goalkeeper last season.
Sunderland were crying out for a new goalkeeper last January. Robbin Ruiter and Luke Steele struggled badly in the first half of last season so the addition of Lee Camp, who arrived on loan from Cardiff City, was very well received.
At least initially. Camp arrived with a reputation as an experienced and proven Championship goalkeeper who had impressed during spells with the likes of Nottingham Forest and Derby County.
But it quickly became apparent that the 34-year-old’s best days were behind him. Camp made 12 league appearances for Sunderland and conceded 22 goals, committing a number of costly errors as the Black Cats were relegated to the third tier.
And, speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Camp has compared Sunderland to a sinking ship. One infamous sinking ship to be precise.
“It’s still a massive football club, a great stadium, great training ground, obviously been in the Premier League recently, Chris Coleman – a good manager, done well with Wales, you think ‘What a chance to go’,” said Camp, who is now back in the Championship as Birmingham City’s number one.
“Then you get in, it’s almost like jumping on the Titanic, so to speak.
“It was a tough time, a tough time for everyone, myself, the manager at the time, people behind the scenes, it was a real tough situation to walk into.”
Fortunately for Sunderland, however, they signed Scotland international Jon McLaughlin on a free transfer from Hearts in the summer and he appears to be the reliable shot-stopper they have been crying out for since Jordan Pickford joined Everton for £30 million.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
