Sunderland sacking leaves McAuley in limbo


By Nathan Jackson
March 6 2006

A possible move to Sunderland fell apart on Monday afternoon as Mick McCarthy was sacked as the Black Cats boss. McCarthy, a manager very keen on signing lower league players, was all set to try and sign McAuley on a free transfer in the summer, however, Sunderland's interest leaves with McCarthy.

McCarthy was sacked after 3 seasons in charge at the Stadium of Light but many will say that it should have come a lot sooner as McCarthy has guided Sunderland ot an almost guaranteed relegation straight back to the Championship. McCarthy had previously plucked Mansfield's Liam Lawrence and Oxford's Dean Whitehead from this level and sent his best scouts to run the rule over McAuley and was believed to be ready to offer McAuley a contract.

McAuley joined the Imps at the beginning of last season as City beat Sunderland to his signature and he went on to be inspirational last season and his goals in the semi-finals of the playoffs sent the Imps to Cardiff again. McAuley has been slightly off the races this season compared to last season but he has formed a good partnership with Jamie McCombe in the absense of captain, Paul Morgan and the two have been an integral part in the Imps run that has since just 1 defeat since the 4-1 hammering at Cheltenham in mid-November.

With McCarthy leaving the North East, it will almost certainly see the ending of the Black Cats interest in McAuley.

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