A source of endless debate among Sunderland fans in recent years has been the notion of a "poison" within the club, an inherent unprofessionalism which prevents the side from escaping its existence as permanent relegation candidates. Rumours have abounded since the reign of Di Canio regarding a severe lack of discipline, and even a destructive drinking culture among several key members of the senior squad. Exactly how "rotten" Sunderland's dressing room is remains to be seen, but something certainly is wrong at the very core of the club. The never-ending cycle of managers is a testament to that, especially given the variety of their philosophies and experience levels. It seems that no man, however astute, intelligent or passionate, can guide Sunderland out of their current mire, and that's a huge worry. Whether there really is one main reason for the Black Cats' inability to succeed, or the problem is merely a combination of factors, the fact remains that something has to be done. Sunderland can't keep escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth; sooner or later they'll run out of luck, and there's no guarantee of a quick promotion from an incredibly competitive Championship division.
