London, Dec 1 (IANS) Steve Bruce became the first manager to be sacked this season in the English Premier League after his contract was terminated by Sunderland here Thursday.
Sunderland were one of the big spenders this season with the likes of Craig Gardner, Connor Wickham, Wes Brown and John O’Shea arriving at the Stadium of Light. They also signed Niklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal.
After a series of bad results and the team languishing in 16th position just two points off the relegation zone, club chairman and owner Ellis Short decided to pull the plug on Bruce.
‘This has been a difficult time for everyone at Sunderland and is not a situation that any of us envisaged or expected to be in,’ Short told the club’s official website.
‘It is my job as chairman to act in the best interests of our football club at all times and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision that I have taken lightly. Sadly results this season have simply not been good enough and I feel the time is right to make a change.’
Short praised the former Manchester United player for his work in the two and half year tenure at the club.
‘I would like to personally place on record my thanks to him for his significant contribution to our football club over the past two and a half years and everyone here at Sunderland naturally wishes him the very best for the future.’
