On This Day (21st November 1993): Butcher hangs onto his job after Southend defeat!

Yesterday at 01:00 AM

Time was running out for Sunderland manager Terry Butcher, who was clinging onto his job by a thread after a dismal loss to Southend United.

The signs were ominous for Sunderland manager Terry Butcher almost as soon as the Division One season started.

After a decent pre-season victory at Middlesbrough, a car containing Phil Gray, Derk Ferguson, Andy Melville and Ian Rodgerson was involved in a serious accident on route back to Sunderland which commenced the signals of doom around Wearside.

Days later, Butcher's side went down 5-0 at Derby County on the opening day of the season continuing the worrying signs.

A week later, their 4-0 win against Charlton Atheltic would be their only win in their first five games, with only a couple more wins coming before this day in November.

Despite a positive September, things took another turn for the worst in the final few days of October as wins were quickly turning into defeats.

A horrendous late October and early November saw Sunderland lose five games on the trot with their latest 2-0 defeat against Southend seeing the pressure ramped up on Butcher as Sunderland manager.

After the defeat, reports suggested that over five hundred fans protested outside Roker Park with the beleaguered manager desperately trying to hold onto his job.

An hour later, chairman Bob Murray summoned Butcher for emergency discussions after chants demanded the departure of both chairman and manager.

With reporters gathering around Roker Park, the anticipation of white smoke emanating from the Sunderland hierarchy was expected.

Hours later just after 8pm, Butcher departed the meeting feeling emboldened as he spoke to reporters outside Roker Park.

I've had a very good meeting with the chairman. I'm still the manager.

I intend to soldier on. I hope to be in charge for next week's match against Nottingham Forest.

Reports further suggested that chairman Bob Murray was still locked in talks for hours after Butcher left the meeting.

In retrospect, it would make you wonder whether Butcher was aware that his departure was imminent when five days later, it was announced that Butcher and chairman Bob Murray would depart the club.

Terry Butcher, the Sunderland manager, was sacked yesterday for the second time in less than two years. Butcher and his assistant, Ian Atkins, were dismissed after a recent run of poor form by the First Division strugglers, with Mick Buxton, formerly in charge at Huddersfield, put in charge for the rest of the season, starting with today's home game against Nottingham Forest.

Bob Murray, having just sacked Butcher, announced his resignation as club chairman.

Buxton's appointment saw a decent upturn in form where he only lost one of his first nine games with the club eventually finishing twelfth in the table.