Ian Evatt has branded Sunderland's decision to sack Lee Johnson as 'absolute madness' after the Black Cats' heavy loss to his Bolton Wanderers side.
Wanderers dismantled and thrashed the North East side comprehensively over the weekend with a 6-0 scoreline at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Little over 24 hours after full-time, Sunderland confirmed that they had parted company with Johnson, who leaves the Black Cats third in the League One table.
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Sunderland were joint-top with Wigan Athletic heading into the fixture, but the Sunderland hierarchy have opted for a change in the dugout following the heavy loss.
And Evatt has admitted he was 'flabbergasted' by the North East club's decision to make a change, believing Johnson is an excellent manager and believes that managers need to be given time, especially in the difficult and competitive make up of the third tier of English football.
He said: “Madness. Absolute madness. I think he was top of the league before the game on Saturday, still third in the table and had lost one league game since November.
“Football’s a very cruel game. I feel for Lee. I don’t ever want to see anybody lose their jobs and fortunately feel incredibly grateful and blessed that I have the board and owner that I do because being top of the league before a Saturday and then walking out at 5 o’clock losing your job is flabbergasting really.
“That can happen to anybody and any manager and any team on any given day really. He was top of the league going into the game at 3 o’clock and then at 5 o’clock lost his job. It’s crazy.
“I think out of 73 games, he won 40-odd. I don’t know what people want or expect and I also read a stat that he was the longest serving Sunderland manager since Steve Bruce which is not Watford extremes, but it’s still too many. Managers need to be given time and a chance and Lee’s an excellent manager.
“They play a great brand of football. This isn’t an easy league to get out of and you’re going to have ups and downs.
"Just because you’re Sunderland or Bolton or Wigan, all these big clubs in this league, it doesn’t give you a right to win every week. You have to earn it and that takes time, so I feel gutted for Lee but I’m sure he’ll be back and prove to everyone again what a good manager he is.”
