With the January transfer window open it is time for some clubs to find new players to recruit whilst others look to offload. With that comes many clubs’ struggles to tie down players whose contracts are running down. This can, in Sunderland’s case, lead to some contradictions between player’s and their clubs over new deals.
This week’s reports suggested (via Roker Report) that Sunderland goalkeeper, Jon McLaughlin, has yet to be offered a new contract by the club. Stewart Donald claimed to have handed the player a new deal back in August. This contradictios has many people questioning who to believe. Many fans were quick to defend the player, as they are growing increasingly distrustful of their club’s owner.
https://twitter.com/northeast_bloke/status/1214251781993193472
While the club have handled this wrong (by lying about offering a contract it seems) I don’t think it would be too bad getting rid. Burge is a very decent GK and I’m sure we’d get a 2nd choice on a lot cheaper wages or Patterson could probably do a job till end of the season
— Andrew Tonge (@tongey93) January 6, 2020
Amazing people are still backin donald, he tells nore lies than his namesake trump
— Jonny Young (@jonny8686) January 6, 2020
— Forza Sunderland (@ForzaSunderland) January 6, 2020
Who do you believe?
Jon McLaughlin
Stewart Donald
Others claimed that they aren’t even that bothered by the player potentially leaving. They just don’t understand how the club can mismanage players so poorly.
I wouldn’t really care but our inability to even adequately replace players is shocking. And we’d let them go for peanuts too
— John Ridley (@Ridderz86) January 6, 2020
Let him go home he has been average at best this season, he has dropped a fair few clangers this season. Plenty of keepers available for loan from EPL
— Panorama exposed (@notagainbbc) January 7, 2020
What do we think?
The contradictions between McLaughlin and Donald’s stories are evident. These fans clearly trust the player more than the owner, highlighting their overall displeasure with the ownership.