Owner Stewart Donald officially announced the club was up for sale, and now they find themselves back in the play-off places. The fan revolt and recent revivalSunderland boss Phil Parkinson replaced Jack RossThe game that began their current unbeaten run was the reverse fixture at Doncaster Rovers. Was this fan statement a masterstroke or an ill-timed, knee-jerk reaction to Parkinson's poor start? "The improvement in recent performances has certainly seen a big shift in Parkinson's popularity," says Michael Lough from the Wise Men Say podcast - a fan group who were part of the collaborative fan statement calling for Donald and Parkinson to go. The Sunderland owner is a divisive figure on Wearside, with large sections of the fan base appreciative of his contribution since taking over.

Source: Sky sports January 23, 2020 18:00 UTC