STUNNED Sunderland fans were last night coming to terms with the shock news that the club had parted company with a manager for the second time this season.

But there were few tears of sadness for Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill, whose arrival in October received a lukewarm response from fans after the departure of Peter Reid.

Chairman Bob Murray also came in for flak from fans last night who said he had to shoulder some of the blame for the club's predicament, languishing at the foot of the Premiership following six successive defeats, the equal worst run in the Black Cats' history.

Speculation was already mounting over the successor, said by Murray to be in place in time for Saturday's Stadium of Light do-or-die relegation dog-fight with Bolton.

Several names were being touted round last night, but top of the wish list was the Irish "dream team" of Mick McCarthy and recently departed fans' favourite Niall Quinn.

Tom Lynn, editor of the fans' magazine The Wearside Roar, walked in from a stag weekend to hear the news at 9pm last night.

"I'm amazed at the timing of it, but glad. Maybe it wasn't the right appointment in the first place, but at least they have had the gumption to make the change.

"Technically the season is still salvageable, it's a long-shot, but at least they're trying to do something about it."

Martyn McFadden, editor of award-winning fanzine, A Love Supreme, said: "It's a big shock, I don't think anyone was expecting it to happen this week.

"But maybe they had to move quickly to line up a successor as a last throw of the dice, hoping they can achieve a miracle."

Eddie Calland, an official of the Chester-le-Street and District branch of the Sunderland AFC Supporters' Association, said: "The bottom line is that Murray should leave now. They had the perfect opportunity to bring in a top quality manager when Peter Reid went.

"It's probably too late for this season, but if they kept Wilkinson they would not have had a chance to come back up next season."

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