Alex Neil walked out on Sunderland to join Stoke, throwing their Championship campaign into turmoil.
The Scot took training with Sunderland’s squad ahead of their clash with Norwich on Saturday, then held a meeting with players to tell them he was leaving. He then left the Academy of Light and drove to Stoke to finalise his contract. Doubts over Neil’s Wearside future had simmered all week.
Sean Dyche is the fans favourite to take over, but he will have to take a huge pay cut from his £5m a year Burnley days to take the job. The Scot led Sunderland to Wembley play off victory in May, after reviving their promotion prospects after taking over in February. But he was only on a one year rolling deal that was not revised this summer leaving the Mackems vulnerable to an approach from a rival.
