Sunderland

Football

Sunderland sack Phil Parkinson following five-game winless run

Published: 29 November 2020 5:47 PM

Steve Phil Parkinson leaves the club after 13 months in charge.

Sunderland have sacked manager Phil Parkinson after five games without a win.

The Black Cats sit eighth in Sky Bet League One, seven points behind leaders Hull.

Parkinson leaves the club 13 months into a two-and-a-half-year contract, while assistant Steve Parkin has also departed.

A Sunderland statement read: "The club would like to place on record its thanks to both Phil and Steve for their efforts during their time at SAFC.

"Preparations for Tuesday's Sky Bet League One fixture against Burton will resume on Monday, with first-team coach Andrew Taylor taking charge of the squad.

"The board will now begin the search for a new manager and will make no further comment until this process is completed."

Parkinson, whose former clubs include Bradford and Bolton, is the latest manager to experience a short tenure at the Stadium of Light.

There have been 10 permanent managers since Steve Bruce became the last man to stay in charge for more than two years between June 2009 and November 2011.

Owner Stewart Donald has been trying to sell Sunderland for some time but the club has declined to comment on reports that a deal is close to being completed.