DO NOT blame Howard Wilkinson for Sunderland's current malaise.

For all of Wilkinson's mistakes, plus the bad luck that plagued his ill-fated reign, he barely stood a chance of turning around the club's fortunes.

Few managers could have seized the poisoned chalice that Peter Reid left for his successor and made a silk purse from a sow's ear.

If the pro-Reid lobby still believed that their man ought to have stayed in charge, the evidence of the last month has proved them wrong.

Of course Bob Murray and his board must not escape censure as the club contemplates an almost certain relegation.

For the Sunderland chairman, appointing Wilkinson amounted to Murray placing all his chips on red - but over the last five months football's roulette wheel has come up black time and again.

Now, as Wilkinson's tenure is scrutinised, Murray should be congratulated for taking affirmative action.

Maybe he should even have made the decision to ditch Wilkinson sooner, as the club's Premiership future has appeared in jeopardy for some time.

But after allowing Reid to remain in charge for too long, Murray has not allowed the present situation to fester.

Reid should have left the club last summer with a "thank you" from club and fans alike for leading Sunderland back to English football's top table.

Instead, a desperate attempt to improve the Black Cats' fortunes merely landed Sunderland with an unwieldy squad and a £25m debt.

Wilkinson had to operate in a financial strait-jacket, but his methods clearly weren't working.

Murray and his directors have noted that, and with life in the Nationwide League looming large they have acted swiftly.

The timing of Wilkinson's dismissal could prove to be the shrewdest decision Sunderland have made for some time.

Do you think the Black Cats could lure a Premiership-class manager to the club in nine games' time, when they will probably be in the Nationwide League?

Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill's credentials seemed pretty sound, despite the former Leeds United boss' reputation.

The appointment of the ex-Football Association technical director, plus one of the brightest young coaches in the game, suggested a brighter future.

But a deep gloom has descended over the Stadium of Light as the standard of football has, if anything, got worse.

Of course, the fates have conspired against Wilkinson. How could he legislate for three own goals against Charlton Athletic, for instance?

The club's chronic injury list also restricted his options, but the results have not improved since his casualty list was reduced.

Mick McCarthy would have been one of the most popular choices to replace Reid among the fans in October.

Five months on, his arrival would receive a warm reception from Sunderland supporters.

And after the decay set in under Reid, and Wilkinson failed to stop the rot, surely the only way is up for the new man.