John O’Shea’s spell at the Stadium of Light is over as he reportedly leaves League One Sunderland for Championship Reading.
There is absolutely no malice in the reaction among Sunderland fans to the news that John O’Shea is on his way out of the Stadium of Light.
The 37-year-old defender has been a loyal servant during seven years at the Stadium of Light, a leader on and off the pitch and a thoroughly likeable figure.
On the other hand, however, O’Shea has also been a major part of a Sunderland team who have gone from the Premier League to League One within just 12 months and major change is needed on Wearside if they are to put this crisis-ridden spell behind them.
This is perhaps the kind of ruthlessness Sunderland need from their new boss. There is simply no room for sympathy or sentimentality at the Stadium of Light with the club desperately trying to shed the failings of the previous regime in order to emerge shiny and new.
And, for all of O’Shea’s qualities, he has unfortunately become a figure of the club’s decline over the years. He will leave with the goodwill of supporters, but not much of a legacy.
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