Ex-Sunderland striker Don Goodman has blamed the Sunderland hierarchy for appointing Michael Beale in the first place after sacking the boss. Speaking on Sky Sports, the pundit and former Black Cats’ forward reckoned the finger of blame should be “pointed firmly” at sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.

Beale was sacked as Sunderland head coach on Monday having only been appointed on December 18. He took charge of just 12 matches, with only four wins achieved in that spell.

Goodman insists it’s the club’s decision-makers, not Beale, who are responsible for the marriage break-up. “It’s never pleasant when a manager loses his job,” Goodman said. “It’s always hard when you are taking over from somebody who was very popular, whose style of football was enjoyed.

“It means you have to hit the ground running and that never happened for Michael Beale unfortunately. The reason Sunderland [appointed Beale] was because Michael has a brilliant reputation developing young players and unfortunately it didn’t work out for him.

“I think part of that is he was under pressure from day one and another is that the strategy of only purchasing and playing young players, there comes a point where you have to accept the inconsistency because that’s what happens. There aren’t any real leaders.