Micky Gray message blaming Michael Beale, Kristjaan Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus

Beale later said that he hadn’t seen Hume leave the pitch and issued an apology after the game. Former Sunderland defender Gray, though, delivered his verdict on matters at the club and suggested that there blame fell at the door of Beale alongside owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.

Taking to Twitter, Gray said: “In the space of 6 weeks I’ve gone from speaking to fans who we’re enjoying watching us play win lose or draw to I’m not going to watch them anymore. If it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. Who’s to blame? #SAFC #Speakman #Dreyfus #Beale”

Gray, who came up through Sunderland’s youth system to earn 410 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club, was recently inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame and was at the Stadium of Light as a section of fans chanted for Beale to be sacked against Hull City earlier this season.

After enjoying stints with Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, and Celtic, the 49-year-old was shocked by the Black Cats’ performance against Hull City and made suggestions about blame directed at Beale. He repeated his remarks following the Birmingham City game. The 49-year-old won two promotions with Sunderland as a first-team player between 1992 and 2004.