| 2005-06 Season For Sunderland A.f.c. |
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Information About2005-06 Season For Sunderland A.f.c. |
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OVERVIEW Sunderland returned to the Premier League as champions of the Championship after a two-year absence. Before the season began fans were under no illusion that it would be tough. The heavy debts that they had been relegated with two-years before had still not been cleared, and as a result there was only a £5 million budget to spend on the Transfer Market . The £1.8 million spent on bringing Jonathan Stead from Blackburn was the highest fee paid. The opening months of the season brought little cheer for Sunderland fans. A solitary away victory over local rivals Middlesbrough was the only league win before New Year. Most critics and fans agreed that in many games Sunderland had been playing well and were unlucky not to get results, for example the home game against Chelsea , and that defensive mistakes and lack of goals were their downfall. As the season went from bad to worse, fans began to focus their anger on the board. Chairman Bob Murray strenuously denied reports that the club had planned for relegation from the beginning, and had used the season simply to pay off debts. Manager Mick McCarthy reportedly described his "hands being tied" in the transfer market, something which he later described as a misquote. On March 6 , McCarthy was sacked by the board as Sunderland went into the remaining games of the season with only two wins under their belt - both away from home. Former club captain Kevin Ball took over as caretaker manager, with little chance of keeping Sunderland in the Premiership. They were mathematically relegated on April 14th despite an impressive goaless draw at Old Trafford . Fans then suffered the humiliation of 4-1 home defeat to local rivals Newcastle United, the worst derby result in over 50 years. It is a season that will live long in the memory of Sunderland fans for all of the wrong reasons. The club are on course to break their own Premiership record of attaining the lowest number of points in a season (19 in 2002/03), and could potentially achieve another unwanted tag - becoming the first Premiership club to not win a league home game during an entire season. The future does however look bright despite the confirmed relegation. Former player and Ryanair kingpin Michael O'Leary . There are also rumours about former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill taking over the manager position. EVENTS
HONOURS N/A TRANSFER DEALS Signings
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