Sunderland relegation to League One 'catastrophic', says former manager Martin O'Neill

Former Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has described their relegation to League One as “catastrophic”, but says new owners can inspire a recovery.

Sunderland will drop down to the third tier of English football for only the second time in their history next season after suffering back-to-back relegations.

The disastrous season led to manager Chris Coleman's sacking and owner Ellis Short has since revealed a deal has been agreed to sell the club to a group led by Eastleigh chairman Stewart Donald, subject to approval.

"It is a great club and it has an absolutely fantastic support, no question about that," said O'Neill. "It's been a really frustrating time, it's been really frustrating for a number of seasons now.

"Staying in the Premier League seems to be what they were doing for a number of years and then they dropped out of it.

"And to go right through, it's just catastrophic. However, I think they are capable of coming back up and I have no doubt, if there are new owners, they will have that expectation and ambition to drive on again.

"It is probably a good time to take over."

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O'Neill, who spent just over two years with the Black Cats before being dismissed in 2013 with the side hovering just above the Premier League relegation zone, was surprised by the club's sudden downfall.

When asked for his reflections on Sunderland's season, O'Neill said: "Naturally very poorly and I don't think anybody would have expected them to drop down the division.

"I think their hopes and expectations at the start of the season would be to try and get back into the Premier League again.

"To drop right through into what would be known as the old third division, now League One, is extremely poor."

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