Sunderland announced a major departure in recent days with the news that chief operating officer (COO) Steve Davison would leave the club at the end of the season.
Davison had been in the role at the Stadium of Light since the end of the 2020/21 season, and had overseen the club’s promotion to the Championship in 2022.
The Black Cats were a club on the up, and reached the play-offs last season, where they were defeated by eventual play-off champions Luton Town, but it was still a successful season on the whole, considering it was their first season at Championship level since 2017/18.
However, things have gone badly for Sunderland this season, and sacking Tony Mowbray in December has badly backfired, with the club having to settle for mid-table mediocrity under Mike Dodds after Michael Beale’s unsuccessful spell in charge.
Supporters have also been unhappy with off-field matters, which comes under Davison’s remit. This came to a head in January when Sunderland decorated one of their home bars in Newcastle United colours ahead of a game against their bitter rivals in the FA Cup.
Understandably, this didn’t go down too well, and the Stadium of Light has not been a happy place as of late.
Sunderland fan pundit isn’t surprised at Steve Davison’s departure
Whilst Steve Davison isn’t responsible for footballing matters, so he can’t be blamed for what’s happened on the pitch, he is responsible for non-football affairs.
There were positive strides, such as overseeing the women’s team’s promotion to the Championship, and he has helped take international women’s football to the Stadium of Light, along with securing Women’s Rugby World Cup action at the ground in 2025.
