Sunderland sack Martin O'Neill
Earlier today the club failed to win for the eighth successive time going down to a 1-0 defeat from Manchester United at the Stadium of Light.
Oneill was in charge of Sunderland for just 16 months after taking over from Steve Bruce.
A club statement tonight read: “The club has parted company with manager Martin O’Neill.
“Sunderland AFC has announced that it has parted company with manager Martin O’Neill this evening.
The club would like to place on record its thanks to Martin and wishes him well for the future.
“An announcement will be made in the coming days regarding a successor.”
After today’s defeat O’Neill said: ““We were a little bit tentative in the first half and the own goal just about sums up the way things have been going.
“I think there was a little bit of tension and a lack of confidence. We gave Manchester United a bit too much time and space when they are the best team in the league.
“We tried to do something about it and we exerted a lot of pressure though without actually creating a clear-cut chances. The players were disappointed at half time but they galvanised and it was a terrific performance in the second half.”
At the start of the season O’Neill spent close to £25m to sign Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnston and was given £5m to sign Newcastle fan Danny Graham from Swansea.
Sunderland are just one point above third bottom placed Aston Villa and face Chelsea and Newcastle away in their next two fixtures.