The stories behind Josh Maja's stunning rise and controversial exit as Sunderland 'Til I Die highlights key club mistakes

Circumstances have conspired to make Josh Maja one of the most talked about footballers in the world.

For neutrals, Sunderland ‘Til I Die has provided a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain, a front-row seat to witness the pressure and mistrust that underpins the not quite so beautiful game.

For Sunderland supporters, it has served as a brutal reminder of one of the club’s biggest missteps in recent times.

You suspect many will be left with two enduring images.

The first, Maja smiling through a somewhat uncomfortable interview, feigning any knowledge of the transfer talk that was beginning to dominate the headlines.

Secondly, the meeting in which Richard Hill states that he expects him to go abroad, inferring that the agent is driving a move purely for financial gain.

Of course, the threads of Maja’s time at Sunderland and his eventual departure ran far deeper.

Recalling that frenetic period and the angst that followed, a number of tales stand out.

All of which, brought together, tell something of a story.

Firstly, Maja holding court at the Stadium of Light.

This was September, his rise gathering pace.

Polite, courteous, unassuming, discussing with relish a message from Jermain Defoe, congratulating him on his EFL Young Player of the Month award.

A talented youngster with self-belief and ambition, but the humility that helped forge a close bond with Jack Ross and his backroom staff.

A committed trainer, that unique finishing ability part instinct and part dedication to his craft.

Second, a pre-season campaign the year before.

Simon Grayson was still trying to piece together a squad and Maja took full advantage, scoring four times.

This was the first real display of that killer touch that had been making waves in the academy.

Grayson subsequently admitted only a knee injury had prevented him being in contention to start that season in his side.

Not the strongest, Grayson said, but a striker with the talent required.

Fit again, he’d deliver a moment of quite extraordinary catharsis for Chris Coleman.

Fulham would be playing Premier League football within months but inside the box that day, Maja was sharper.

Two touches, a goal, the first home win in a year.

Third, Jack Ross, talking with Sunderland fans as he picked through the bones of his Sunderland tenure and subsequent departure.

On Maja’s dismissal, he was relatively sanguine about the decision that had come

He did not necessarily think there was a great deal the club could have done more to keep him, but he did believe the eventual sale and what followed was a failure of planning.

A fourth story. A month or so before the sale, Ross addressed the assembled media at the Academy of Light.

Ross had been here before and that was the point he wanted to make.

The season previous, Lewis Morgan was starring for his St Mirren side and his contract was winding down.

Celtic signed him, loaned him back, and St Mirren went up. Everybody won.

By now it felt clear that Maja was going to choose to move, either in January or the summer.

Ross wanted to act and his comments on Sunderland ‘Til I Die underine how he felt the episode highlighted major flaws in the structure, Stewart Donald sanctioning an eye-watering deal at that level.

His frustration with the signing was not with Will Grigg himself, who he rated and wanted, but that the financial parameters of what the club were prepared to do shifted so quickly.

Two final stories.

One, a month or so after the sale.