“Didn’t want to be there” – Simon Grayson reflects on Ellis Short era at Sunderland

Simon Grayson has been a successful manager in the EFL, yet he did not have success with Sunderland while he was Ellis Short’s boss.

The North East-raised midfielder would eventually only manage eighteen competitive games while leading the Black Cats, winning only three of them before his employment was terminated. However, it was during those games that he gained recognition from supporters beyond the EFL.

The unpleasant atmosphere on Wearside at that period was extensively recorded in Netflix’s ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ series, which captured a great deal of the drama and misjudgments that transpired behind the scenes of the team’s horrific second division campaign in 2017–18.

Since their relegation from the top-flight during the 2016/17 Premier League season, Sunderland have been on a rollercoaster of contrasting fortunes, which included a four-year stint in League One after suffering back-to-back relegations.

Grayson oversaw the first part of that season, with cameras regularly seen in and around the training ground and stadium on matchdays as well. Short was the man at the top as both owner and chairman of the club, gaining controlling interest in September 2008 and departing Sunderland in April 2018 – almost 10 years on.

Grayson was appointed in the latter stages of Short’s tenure, coming in as manager in June 2017. However, after a poor run of form, he was dismissed after a 3-3 home draw with fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers. Ex-Wales manager, Chris Coleman, was appointed as the new boss in November.

Grayson reflects on Ellis Short’s Sunderland tenure

Grayson has reflected on his time at Sunderland under Short, who he claims was in the process of trying to sell his share in the club, which had a large impact in terms of what happened on the pitch that season.

Speaking to Football League World via Casino bonus, he said: “Well, I think at the time, it was a different club as it is now.

“Ellis Short, the owner, was trying to sell the club so there were a lot of sales and a lot of difficult atmospheres around in the dressing room. Players were still there that didn’t want to be there.

“It wasn’t a great time to go there. It’s probably a better time to go now as manager, if anybody’s going to go, because it seems a lot more stable off the pitch than it was previously.”

He added: “You only have to look at not just the managers that have been under the current owners, but the previous owners as well. There have been some really good managers that have struggled at Sunderland.

“You go back from when I was there to Chris Coleman and other people since. It’s not an easy job to get right for the coaches but also for the owners as well.”