On this day in 1991, Denis Smith was sacked as our manager following a 3-0 defeat away to Oxford United.
A defender in his playing days, Smith ended his career at York City before transitioning to management. Smith had a lot of success at York, signing future Sunderland player John MacPhail and future Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia.
After five years at York, where he took the Minstermen to the Third Division, Sunderland found themselves in their lowest point in history. They were also in the Third Division, and were looking for a new manager after the disaster of Lawrie McMenemy. Bob Murray decided to take a different route, going with the lesser-known but extremely confident Smith.
Smith inspired the side to storm the league, finishing as champions. He brought his York coaching staff with him, including Viv Busby and Malcolm Crosby, as well as signing former York players John MacPhail and a certain Marco Gabbiadini!
After winning the Third Division, Smith’s men finished 11th in their first season back in the Second Division. The following season, Smith took Sunderland to the play-offs, where they faced Newcastle United and made their way to the final in a 2-0 win at St James’. Despite losing the play-off final, Sunderland were then promoted due to Swindon’s financial irregularities.
Although Sunderland were relegated back to the Second Division, Smith’s men fought until the end and had a chance of survival up until the last day of the season, losing 3-2 to Man City. The gaffer’s hometown club Stoke City offered Smith a job, but he felt that potentially being sacked by the club he supported would be too much of an emotional experience, so stayed with Sunderland.
The team flattered to deceive in the Second Division, with funds extremely limited. Smith couldn’t improve the side, being forced to sell star striker Gabbiadini for £1.8 million, and was ultimately sacked in December 1991 with Sunderland 17th in the league.
