Fan Letters: "Is it time for Sunderland to loosen the purse strings as we push for promotion?"

Yesterday at 01:00 AM

RR reader Steve feels that with next season's Championship shaping up to be a tough league, the time is right for Sunderland to go for it. Got something to say? Email us: RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Roker Report,

I wonder if the decision makers of Sunderland have seen how difficult the Championship will be next season.

With all three clubs coming down having parachute payments as usual, and possibly one or more of those being Everton or Wolves, with deep pockets, the quality dropping from the Premier League is strong.

Looking over our shoulder, we see the very real prospect of heavy spenders Birmingham City and Wrexham looking to 'do an Ipswich' and go for back-to-back promotions from League One to the top flight.

Next season's Championship is going to be a tough place to be and splashing big money on Enzo Le Fee's wages and a highly-priced striker make sense in the context of next season as much as this.

We've been financially prudent for the last couple of seasons, but is it time to loosen the purse strings?

Steve in Washington

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Steve. Thank you for your letter.

Personally, I feel that at this stage, Sunderland have an exceptional chance of securing promotion to the Premier League for next season, and that the marquee signing of Enzo Le Fee represented a major statement of intent from the club hierarchy.

I'd also expect additional signings to follow as we aim to push on and secure a top two spot by the end of the season.

The fear of cash-rich Premier League clubs dropping into the Championship, or of clubs making an unlikely top six tilt following promotion to this league, is always going to be there, but at this stage, we need to control what can control and with twenty games left, whether we're a Championship club by this time next year or in the midst of a Premier League campaign is very much in our hands.

Dear Roker Report,

I wholeheartedly agree with your recent article about the FA Cup and how it's been mishandled by football's power brokers.

As someone who grew up dreaming of the magic of this competition, it pains me to see how far it's fallen in terms of importance for many clubs and fans alike.

I remember the days when the FA Cup final was the pinnacle of the football calendar.

It wasn't just another game — it was an event. The build-up was unmatched, the underdog stories gave us all hope, and the romance of the competition made every round feel special. These days, it feels like the magic has been dimmed by the prioritisation of money-driven competitions like the Champions League or even the relentless focus on league standings.

What's truly frustrating is the way clubs, particularly in the Premier League, often treat the FA Cup as an inconvenience.

Resting key players or fielding weakened squads seems to be the norm now, and it undermines the essence of the competition.

For lower-league clubs, the FA Cup represents a lifeline, a chance to dream and achieve the unthinkable. The magic is still there, but it just feels overshadowed by modern football's financial obsessions.

I think it's high time we brought back the glory days of the FA Cup.

Perhaps the FA needs to look at incentivising the competition better or even restructuring the fixture calendar to give it the prominence it deserves.

For fans like me, it's not about money or sponsorship deals; it's about the pride, passion, and unpredictability that only the FA Cup can deliver.

Ian Hughes

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Ian. Thank you for getting in touch.

I can't disagree with any of the points you've made, and like many fans, I've got lots of fond memories of the FA Cup from over the years — both involving Sunderland and other clubs, and I do think the competition had a far greater level of appeal in years gone by.

Sadly, the fairytales and the upsets are growing fewer and farther between, and I fully expect the usual suspects to qualify for the latter stages of this year's tournament, and for the final to play out in typically underwhelming fashion.

It's definitely been watered down nowadays, and as I said in a reply to a recent letter, I'm not sure what the solution is, or even if one exists.

Dear Roker Report,

I found Ian Hughes' point about Tom Cannon's price tag and your editor's note very thought-provoking.

While £13 million might seem steep by Sunderland's standards, I believe the broader context of modern football supports the idea of such an investment, provided the right strategy is in place.

Cannon has a proven track record at this level, and strikers with his credentials don't come cheap.

If he were to score the goals that helped us secure promotion, the fee would indeed look like a bargain compared to the financial windfall of reaching the Premier League. This isn't just about spending for the sake of it- it's about making a calculated gamble with potentially massive rewards.

That said, I also understand the hesitation.

Sunderland's recent financial prudence has been commendable, and it's refreshing to see a club run sensibly. Overspending on one player, especially in a competitive market, could backfire if he doesn't live up to expectations or if his arrival disrupts the team dynamic.

Ultimately, I trust the recruitment team to make the right call.

If Cannon is deemed the best option and within reach, I'd back the club to pursue him. If not, I'm confident they'll have other targets in mind who can bolster the squad without breaking the bank.

Either way, I hope we see a new striker come through the door before the window shuts; it feels like the final piece of the puzzle in what could be a very exciting campaign.

Mark Grant

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Mark. Thank you for your letter.

The potential signing of Cannon (which I remain unconvinced will actually happen, as of the time of writing this reply) would be the classic 'risk/reward' situation, I feel.

A hefty fee for an undoubtedly talented player, and as you say, if he came in, finished off the chances that others perhaps wouldn't, and fired us to a top two finish and a place in the Premier League, we'd probably view that fee as a drop in the ocean.

On the other hand, if it didn't quite work out as we all hoped, it could be problematic further down the line, and the club may well face accusations of overpaying.

Not an easy one, but he's a very good player and it'll be interesting to see where he ends up by the end of the window.