Sunderland back Le Bris to survive Premier League crisis despite rock-bottom start

Sunderland have decided to keep faith with manager Regis Le Bris despite the club sitting rock-bottom of the Premier League, with only one win from their opening nine matches. PA reported on Monday that Le Bris retains the full backing of the club’s board and remains central to their plans.

Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Coventry extended Sunderland’s winless league run to seven games, a sequence that has left them with just one point from five away fixtures. The club’s hierarchy have acknowledged supporters’ frustrations and share their disappointment with a series of below-par performances, but believe Le Bris is the right man to reverse their fortunes.

The Frenchman’s reputation was at a high point heading into the season. After guiding Sunderland to promotion via the play-offs, he led them to a seventh-placed finish in their first campaign back in the top flight after an eight-year absence — delivering European football to the club for the first time in 53 years.

While their domestic form has been dire, the picture in Europe is considerably brighter. Sunderland are unbeaten in the Europa League, having beaten AZ Alkmaar and Torreense before drawing in Poland against Lech Poznan. The club’s hierarchy believe the additional fixture load has contributed to the dip in Premier League performances, and that maintaining stability and collective responsibility offers the best path forward.

Sunderland’s next fixture is a Europa League home tie against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, before a Premier League meeting with Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.