Fan letters: “Fan communication at Sunderland must improve!”

Dear Roker Report,

I tried to contact the ticket counter by phone today and after listening to a recorded introductory message for almost a minute, I was finally put on hold.

Fifteen minutes later, I got a “connecting” message and then was disconnected. My next four attempts had the same result.

I didn’t give up and finally tried again – five times – and after having to listen to the introductory message each time, I was immediately cut off.

What really annoys me is that our so-called big club can’t even get communication right. If people could get through by phone, maybe the queues would be shorter.

Ronnie McGuire

Editor’s note (Phil): Hello Ronnie. Thanks for your letter.

It is always unfortunate to hear that fans like you have had problems contacting the club’s ticket office.

This is a long-standing problem and whilst things seem to be moving in the right direction, there is clearly still a lot of room for improvement and I really hope that David Bruce and the people concerned are working hard to ensure that the standard of service continues to rise.

That’s the least the fans deserve.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

After two wins, there is talk of a placement among the top six.

That’s good, but how about we throw our hat in the ring and say we’re going to fight for the top two spots? It’s not impossible.

Last season we did well, beating Southampton, Leeds, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and some other good teams, but we let ourselves down by losing to teams who were below us.

We can’t allow that to happen this season, so we’re aiming for promotion! Why not?

Bill Calvert

Editor’s note (Phil): Hi Bill. Thanks for getting in touch.

Whilst I am as encouraged by our start to the season as anyone, I temper my hopes given that our team in its current configuration does not quite tick the boxes for a top six finish, despite the wealth of talent in our ranks and Régis Le Bris’ encouraging start on Wearside.

If we can add some real quality in the final week of the transfer window and keep the majority of our key players, we may have a chance of making the playoffs under Le Bris, but I won’t get carried away until the table takes shape and we have a better idea of ​​exactly what Sunderland looks like.

After all, there have been many positive beginnings that ultimately led to nothing. That’s why I’m cautiously optimistic.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I enjoyed the feverish coverage in Yorkshire of Jack Clarke’s return to the club of his boyhood.

It is somewhat amusing that he has the same initials as the Messiah, but isn’t it clear to everyone in Leeds by now that there will be no “second coming”?

If they had appeared in the play-off final, things might have turned out differently, but then they wouldn’t be in the position they are in now, having lost their best players.

Despite interest and a low offer from a Premier League club, I am convinced he will still be with us when the transfer window closes.

I don’t think it’s a question of money, but a question of ambition – of the club and the owner.

How can you sell your valuable asset so close to the expiration date, even if the expected value is reached, and especially given the fact that it is irreplaceable?

If Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants to alienate every single fan and everyone associated with the club, this is the perfect way to do it, because selling Jack Clarke would mean the end of any chance of making the playoffs. In other words, the impact on our season would be the same or worse than the sale of Ross Stewart twelve months ago.

It would also be a cynical betrayal.

Yes, clubs are businesses and the ‘model’ is clear, but for everyone with a season ticket or day ticket, for the thousands with new shirts and for everyone who has new hope of promotion after a better start to the season, a sale would destroy all that and leave a very bitter aftertaste.

Like many others, I was seriously concerned that we would lose some of our best players this summer after the debacle of last season. But now it is up to owner Kristjaan Speakman and the club to hold on to him no matter what they are offered. And assuming he does not sign a new contract, they should fully support Régis Le Bris and wait to see where we are in January.

We were still in the top six when Tony Mowbray was sacked and there are positive signs that we could be there or close to it when the January transfer window opens. Let’s hope so.

Like everyone else, I understand that a lot can happen between now and the transfer window closes, but unless the boy decides he wants to leave (which he clearly hasn’t done yet and I don’t think he will) then with two years left on his contract, the club is certainly in a very different situation to what it was under Stewart, and Clarke stays.

The bottom line is that I currently see no justification for selling it and many compelling reasons to reject all offers.

I just hope Dreyfus thinks the same way.

Simon Bland

Editor’s note (Phil): Hello Simon. Thank you for your letter.

I will keep this brief because I have an absolutely clear opinion about Jack Clarke.

In my opinion, losing Clarke this transfer window would be a huge blow to our chances of competing at the top of the table and I would have serious doubts about how we could replace his goals, assists and overall importance to the team.

He is an absolute top player and has been for most of his time at Sunderland and he is the type of player I think we should do everything in our power to retain.

I wrote about it in more detail for the website earlier this week (you can read it Here), and I just hope that when the transfer window closes he’s still a Sunderland player. Maybe that’s a vain hope, but until a deal gets done there’s still a chance.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images