Reid set for quick comeback - Sharp
Graeme Sharp believes his former Everton team-mate Peter Reid will make a quick return to management after parting company with Sunderland last night.
Former Arsenal, Leeds and Tottenham boss George Graham and his Elland Road successor David O’Leary have emerged as early favourites to take on the job at the Stadium of Light, and both kept themselves in the frame for the job by making it clear that as unattached managers they were free to talk to whoever they liked.
Reid and four members of his coaching staff left the club as chairman Bob Murray is determined to have a new man in place before the Black Cats’ next match against fellow strugglers West Ham on October 19.
But Sharp, along with Reid part of Everton’s successful team of the mid-1980s, said: “Peter is a fantastic football man and I’m sure he will bounce straight back.
“He will go away and think about things but I’m sure he will want to get back into the game as quickly as he can.
“Some people will argue it is the right time. Nine games into the season, so a new manager might give them a bit more belief but you have to look at the players.
“They have to take a long hard look at themselves and ask if they could have done more.
“Peter will be very disappointed. He has received a lot of criticism, which has been pretty harsh because he has done a fantastic job at Sunderland.
“He is leaving them in a far healthier state than when he arrived because it looked as though they were going to get relegated to the Second Division.”
Sunderland finished seventh in the Premiership two years in a row but slipped to 17th place last season, and occupy the same position this season after winning just two of their first nine league games.
Reid had been on the receiving end of increasing abuse from fans, culminating in one individual drenching him in beer on a pre-season tour of Belgium.
“Peter has nothing to be ashamed of,” added Sharp.
“The treatment he has received from some fans has been atrocious. But it comes to every manager. When you take a job you know you are going to get the sack.
“The fans could only dream of being in this situation three or four years ago but, once you have a bit of success, the expectations get a lot higher.
“Peter struggled last year, struggled at the beginning of this year. It is hard and unjust but that’s what happens.”
Murray, who admitted it had been a “difficult decision” to part company with Reid, told the club’s official website www.safc.com: “We will be appointing a successor as quickly as possible and hope to have someone in place before our next league game.
“Most importantly we are looking for someone we believe can improve our league position in the short term and secure our Premier League status.
“The international break should hopefully mean that there will be as little disruption to the players as possible.
“Until a successor is appointed the remaining coaching staff will take training sessions for those players not on international duty.”
David O’Leary told BBC Sport Online: “I’m gutted for Peter, but I’m an out-of-work manager and I’m happy to talk to anyone.”
Graham added: “I’m keen to speak to any club whose ambition matches my own.”
Former Sunderland player Gary Rowell can see one of those two being chosen to turn things around.
He said: “They’re the two names being bandied around and it would not surprise me if either of those two are being sounded out.
“They do seem to be the two names cropping up all the time.”
