Perhaps the worst thing to say about Sunderland’s descent to League One is it wasn’t especially surprising.
The club seem to have been on a slippery slope for years. Yet it still hurts, and has a real impact on people within the football club.
Players and managers come and go, but office staff can’t simply pick up a four year contract elsewhere, and don’t have the same protection.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter has been speaking to Voetbal International, and it’s clear he understands that: “Especially for people in the office. Footballers and managers are passers-by, these people live for the club. Suppose they lose their job… The only thing this club can do now is return to the Championship as soon as possible.”
VI explain that it’s unsure whether Ruiter will continue with Sunderland beyond this season, although the player himself wasn’t keen to hint too much about a transfer.
The goalkeeper does, however, sound happy that he signed for the club in the first place: “This is a great adventure. Sunderland is a big club, many people in the Netherlands do not know about this. The stadium, the fans, the training complex. In addition, I played away games against clubs like Aston Villa and Wolverhampton. That is incredibly cool.”
He’s got the right attitude, and isn’t talking about jumping ship, when Sunderland come around to their next great sale, maybe Ruiter should be left off the list.
