Just In: I was Extremely Disappointed By Black cat Sacking, “But such is life, you know… It does hurt.”

Lee Johnson, the former Sunderland manager, has revealed his deep disappointment over his dismissal from the club in early 2022. 

At the time of his sacking, the Black Cats were pushing for promotion from League One to the Championship and sat just two points off the top of the table. However, a disastrous 6-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers marked the end of his tenure at the Stadium of Light. 

Speaking on the *Business of Sport* podcast, the 43-year-old reflected on his time in the North East and expressed frustration over not being given more time to complete the job. When discussing the pressures of managing a club with high expectations, Johnson spoke highly of Sunderland’s passionate fan base and his connection with the team. 

“I absolutely loved my time at Sunderland,” he said. “I was devastated when it ended. We were doing well—I believe we were third in the league when I was sacked, and we had won the club’s first trophy in 50 years at Wembley [the Papa John’s Trophy]. My win ratio was the best since 1897, and we were improving with each transfer window.” 

Despite his success, Johnson acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with managing a club of Sunderland’s stature, stating that he never felt overwhelmed but found the intense media scrutiny difficult to navigate. 

“One of my weaknesses is how I react to injustice,” he admitted. “Football management is full of it, and you have to find a way to push through it with energy and enthusiasm. But even now, I meet Sunderland fans everywhere, and I always felt a strong connection with them.” 

Reflecting on his departure, Johnson suggested that multiple factors contributed to his sacking, with tensions building behind the scenes even before the heavy loss to Bolton. 

“You can sense when something isn’t quite right,” he explained. “Communication slows down, you hear things behind the scenes, and you start to realize a decision is coming. I knew my time at Sunderland was coming to an end for a couple of months before it actually happened. Ironically, I think I was even the reigning Manager of the Month when I was sacked.” 

Despite the disappointment, Johnson accepted the nature of football management, acknowledging that, while painful, such decisions are part of the job.