Sunderland board supported McCarthy

Sunderland vice-chairman John Fickling has insisted Mick McCarthy was given every penny the club could spare to fund his summer re-building programme.

The Black Cats boss was sacked yesterday after his side slumped to its 22nd defeat - against Manchester City on Sunday - in 28 Barclays Premiership games.

McCarthy departed with many fans still believing he had not been given a genuine chance of securing top-flight survival, despite being handed £10million to strengthen his side.

However, Fickling pointed to the form of fellow promoted sides West Ham and Wigan - and their similar budgets - to counter those claims.

"We made the maximum amount of money possible available this season," he said.

"That's the job of any board - and that's what we have done.

"Sadly, it has not quite worked out for us. But we have got to look ahead positively.

"You have got to look at other clubs around us and see how other people managed on not dissimilar budgets.

"Unfortunately, is just has not quite worked for us."

Former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett, however, predicted that some fans will look beyond the outgoing manager as they search for answers to the club's problems.

"You get rid of Mick McCarthy and a new man is going to come in - but is there going to be money available?" 

Bennett, who follows Sunderland in his role as a radio pundit, pointed to the job McCarthy did in getting the club back into the Premiership.

But he admits the blueprint clearly did not work in the top flight.

"In hindsight, you can always look at it and say he could have done this or he should have done that," he said.

"In the (Coca-Cola) Championship, what he did he did well; the players he brought in did well. But unfortunately this season, the players he brought in have not worked out for him.

"Maybe he just thought he could ride the situation out and get around the corner, but it has not worked out that way."

Rangers boss Alex McLeish has already been installed as the early favourite to succeed McCarthy.