Sunderland manager Peter Reid has left the struggling English premier league club, chairman Bob Murray said on Monday.A statement on Sunderland’s website said that “the board (of directors) has decided it is in the best interests of the club to seek a change of direction”.Reid, the former England midfielder who took over at the North East club in March 1995, had come under increasing pressure after a gradual decline in Sunderland’s fortunes.“Nearly a quarter of the season has gone and we are at the wrong end of the table and can’T wait any longer for performances to improve,” said Murray.“We’ve invested more than 22 million pounds ($34.42 million) in the playing side in the last nine months but unfortunately results have not changed for the better since last season.”Despite twice leading Sunderland to promotion from the first division and a seventh place finish in the premier league in 2000 and 2001, fans have been calling for Reid’s head for six months.The 46-year-old has guided the Stadium of Light club to five defeats in nine games this season and Sunderland are fourth from bottom of the premier league.They succumbed 3-1 to Double winners Arsenal at Highbury on Sunday, a result that Left them three points off the bottom.As well as Reid, his backroom staff of Adrian Heath, Bobby Saxton, Tony Book and Mike Walsh have also Left the club.Sunderland avoided relegation by just four points after a disappointing season last year but Murray was eager to put on record his gratitude for Reid’s efforts.“Sunderland is totally unrecognisable now to when Peter Reid walked through the door at (former ground) Roker Park in 1995,” he said.
