Whitley Signing Confirmed - Breen to Follow
The club have confirmed they have signed Jeff Whitley and announced that they expect central defender Gary Breen to complete a move by tomorrow
Whitley has signed an 11-month contract with the Black Cats (effective from 4 August 2003) while Gary Breen will undergo a medical later today.
Mick McCarthy said “ I’ve been looking for a centre back and Gary is a vastly experienced defender, who I’m sure will do well for us. I don’t anticipate that there will be any problems with the medical and expect he’ll sign a 2 year contract later today or tomorrow.”
Whitley will get the number 8 shirt.
McCarthy said: “ Jeff is a good player who I’m sure will do well for us. I’ve made no secret of my desire to sign him and I’m glad it’s all gone through".
Jeff Whitley commented: “ I’m glad to get things sorted. I’ve been training with Sunderland for a while now and knew this was the club I wanted to sign for.
“ I’ve had to be patient but I’ve had regular chats with the manager and it’s great that it’s all paid off. I’m delighted to officially be a Sunderland player and I’m looking forward to the new season.”
PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Jeff Whitley
Date of Birth: 28 - 1 - 1979
Place of Birth: Zambia
Height: 5ft 7
Weight: 10st 12
Midfielder
Career
Manchester City since schoolboy and featured in the Man City squad who travelled to the Stadium of Light for the first ever competitive match.
Name: Gary Breen
Date of Birth: 12-12-1973
Place of Birth: Hendon, London
Height: 6ft 1
Weight: 12st
Defender
Career
1992 - 1994 Gillingham
1994 - 1996 Peterborough
1996 -1997 Birmingham
1997 - 2002 Coventry
2002 - 2003 West Ham
ANOTHER summer of discontent
When will we ever have something to look forward to? Year after year, month after month all we get is doom and gloom. What as a large social group have we done to deserve such constant bad fortune?
The longer this current bad patch goes on the more culpable Peter Reid becomes. As A one time fervent supporter of the man it is getting to the stage whereby the television is in danger whenever he appears on it. Of course he built a bad team. Of course he let go/ forced out our better players. But as always, at the top, one man sits looking down on the mess he has allowed to form beneath his lofty perch. Step forward Bob Murray.
This so-called column has many, many times in the past criticised our beloved chairman. 90% of Sunderland supporters now seem to be in agreement. Not that this particular gobshite has any bearing on that. 5 relegations, constant lies and broken promises have seen to that thank you very much. Now we have to keep it up and force him out. But how can we achieve this without affecting on the field displays. I am behind Mick Mack and would not in any way want to undermine his position (at the moment!) but Murray quite simply has to be let known exactly how we are feeling at the moment.
I have never been one for advocating non-attendance of matches. My philosophy is that supporters support whenever possible. And given out current financial crisis abandonment of the club will just compound the problem. All that my limited mind can think of is chants and displays of anti board sentiments at matches. But, there is a condition; it must be done when we are WINNING. Not just after the opposition score. Judging on pre-season results this plan may only get a very limited run out!
Reacting to opposition goals with Murray out chants will just seem to be knee-jerk. However goals for Sunderland bring on varying stages of euphoria, imagine how it will look and sound if we celebrate the goal then get the protests going. That will show how serious we feel about the current mismanagement of the club. Even the stupid bastards in the local media might pick up on it. Whatever the method employed, Murray has to realise how we feel and hopefully without negative impact on the team.
On returning from the pre season friendly at Hibs the train pulled into Newcastle Central station whereby a small war commenced. Now there are several ways of looking at this. Was it an arranged meeting of fuckwits? Was it by chance? Were we the normal Sunderland fans lucky that the Seaburn Casuals (Honestly grown men having gang names) were there to ‘protect’ us? Would the Gremlins (yes, the fucking Gremlins, how pathetic is that?) have been there if they weren’t expecting a dust up?
Is it good to carry a threat to avoid a threat? I think so, sadly. These situations will never go away. Again sadly. But if they are ‘dead hard’ why don’t they arrange it properly and have a championship of hooliganism. All the fuckwits from all the clubs could be put on an island somewhere and left to fight it out. They can get their ‘buzz’; we can get on with watching out football teams. Everyone’s a winner.
Hopes for the season. As I cobble this collection of poor grammar and inappropriate words together I can see a struggle to avoid relegation ahead. Hopefully this time next week it will have changed. Football fans are notoriously fickle. I see myself to be the same. Heres to the promotion challenge. Well maybe the play offs. Or mid table.
