Why it won't be easy for Sunderland to end two-year nightmare in League One

Sunderland kick off their League One campaign against Charlton Athletic on Saturday but I'm still struggling to come to terms with the reality of Sunderland playing in such a lowly division.
Jack Ross can make himself a Sunderland hero.Jack Ross can make himself a Sunderland hero.
Jack Ross can make himself a Sunderland hero.

Did the last two seasons really happen? It seems like a bad dream, a two-year nightmare.

Sadly it was all too real, and it’s now the job of Jack Ross to pick up the pieces, the latest boss to go through the revolving door at the Stadium of Light.

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The bookies have installed Sunderland as favourites, though I’m not sure how they’ve come to that conclusion with the rebuilding job needed. It’s probably just the fact that Sunderland are by a mile the biggest club in this division and therefore punching way below their weight in a league that, by rights, they should be nowhere near.

I don’t see anything that’s going to be easy this season – Sunderland will be a huge scalp for every other club, and every player at this level will relish a trip to the Stadium of Light to show what they can do on such a big stage.

Sunderland are certainly starting from scratch, with a new manager and staff, a new team, and also new owners.

Like every other Sunderland fan I hope they all hit the ground running because we simply can’t afford a bad start. Sunderland need to make a positive opening to the campaign and get some momentum going, or a fanbase that has been pushed to the limits – but been remarkably loyal – will be become frustrated and disillusioned yet again.

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The fact that the club has sold more season tickets than last year is tremendous news all things considered, but that support and loyalty has to be rewarded, so its over to the club now to deliver.

It goes without saying that this is a huge season in the history of the club, no one wants to spend a minute longer than necessary in this division that Sunderland find themselves in, and if Jack Ross can turn things around and get Sunderland up at the first attempt, he’ll have done an incredible job and be rightly seen as a Wearside hero.