Sunderland are struggling for survival in the Championship after getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.
Former Newcastle United and Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has made a damning statement about Sunderland on social networking site Twitter.
The former Queens Park Rangers man has claimed that Sunderland should feel lucky that the Championship has a bottom or they would be sinking further down the footballing pyramid.
The Black Cats are playing in the Championship this season after getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
Sunderland are at the foot of the Championship table at the moment with just 11 points from 17 matches.
Chris Coleman is the new manager in charge of the Black Cats, and former Newcastle midfielder Barton has wondered why the ex-Wales head coach decided to take the role at the Stadium of Light.
“They have just set the record for most home defeats, they are bottom of the table, there is a disconnect with the owner,” Barton told talkSPORT about Coleman.
“I didn’t see him taking that job. I thought he was better than that. He must be getting weighed in to go there and been given guarantees to spend in January.”
Sunderland have a decent squad, but the players are underperforming and new manager Coleman has to get them motivated.
The Black Cats will return to action this evening when they take on Aston Villa away from home at Villa Park in the Championship.
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