Sunderland signed Kazenga Lua Lua in January but he failed to prevent the Black Cats’ relegation from the Championship to League One.
You had to feel for Chris Coleman during his short-lived time in charge of Sunderland.
The former Wales boss entered the Stadium of Light hoping to save the Black Cats from successive relegations. But he was left severely hamstrung by the club’s dire financial situation, which limited him to free agents and short-term loans during a crucial January transfer window.
And Kazenga Lua Lua’s forgettable five-month stint on Wearside rather sums up Sunderland’s underwhelming recruitment in recent years.
Lua Lua arrived on a short-term contract after being released by Queens Park Rangers. But the former Newcastle United youngster managed only six substitute appearances, totalling 117 minutes, as the Black Cats dropped down to League One.
It was no surprise then when LuaLua was released for the second time in less than 12 months at the end of last season.
And, four months after Sunderland’s relegation was confirmed, he is still without a club.
Lua Lua still has some credit on the back of a memorable eight-year spell at Brighton and Hove Albion, but it seems that an inability to make an impact at either QPR or Sunderland could have left him on the scrapheap.
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