Sunderland are on the verge of collapse, but maybe a trip down to the third tier would not be so bad after all.
Sunderland players and fans alike are staring at the very real possibility of relegation to the third tier of English football, and naturally, that is quite a frightening prospect. Still, while it may seem like an extraordinary failure right now, it could be the best thing that ever happens to them.
Right now, the club is in a state of flux. They want to remain in the second tier because they believe they can build something starting from the summer transfer window, especially given that they’ve got an honest and capable manager in charge.
Unfortunately, for every minute Ellis Short remains at the helm, things may continue to get worse. He has openly expressed a desire to sell the North East club and move on to pastures new, but in a bizarre way, perhaps the Black Cats just need to grit their teeth for a little while longer.
His position at the club is not a favourable one, but it is a necessary evil when you consider the debt and uncertainty surrounding the current situation. There is no sale on the horizon if reports are to be believed so, much like when Mike Ashley took Newcastle United down to the Championship, maybe there is nothing supporters can do aside from focus on what is happening on the pitch instead of off it.
There is also a great deal of deadwood that needs to be disposed of, and a move down to the third tier will allow that to happen. They can free up some extra money, allow young and hungry players to get some time in the first team, and begin the rebuilding process which so many other clubs of their stature have been through.
Leicester, Southampton, Wolves, Norwich all spent time in League One over the last decade or so and they are all better off for it. The first two are in the Premier League, Wolves are on the verge of returning, and Norwich are starting to make a push for the play-offs.
Their situations were not exactly the same as Sunderland’s, nor were they entirely different, but it is worth noting that League One is a rehab league for teams who need to re-discover their identity.
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