On This Day (16 April 1996) Reidy’s Kings Fry Brum To Edge Nearer Promotion
Meanwhile, the board were making plans, too.
BARNSLEY, ENGLAND - April 6: Peter Reid manager of Sunderland pointing on team bench during the League Division One match between Barnsley and Sunderland at Oakwell on April 6, 1996 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by Graham Whitby Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) | Getty Images Peter Reid’s Sunderland promotion charge had gathered considerable pace since the turn of the year, and with just four points needed from the final four games to confirm the team would play in the top flight next season, the eyes of everyone associated with the club were turned to what would happen when we were promoted, rather than if. The new ground project was underway, and the club’s final season at Roker Park would, it seemed, be played out – rather fittingly – in the top division.
On the morning of our next game – at home to Barry Fry’s Birmingham City – the headlines in the paper were all focused on how Sunderland would approach the new season, with the club determined not to repeat the mistakes of six years previous, when they failed to back manager Denis Smith upon promotion. When you look back at Peter Reid’s tenure as Sunderland manager, it’s easy to forget it wasn’t necessarily plain sailing to begin with. While on the field Reid worked wonders, he had to back the board into a corner for support.
After his initial appointment kept us up, Reid was in no hurry to sign a permanent deal as manager – he waited until he’d had the right assurances from the board about a transfer budget. And, similarly, while the team was preparing for this game against Birmingham, paper talk focused on the club’s ambitions for the following campaign. Reid, while ‘unlikely to walk away’ was said to be demanding assurances to ensure ‘he doesn’t fall flat on his face on a return to the big time’.
In the press, vice chairman John Fickling, said: Substantial funds will be made available. We have to be looking at spending a fair amount of money – there’s no doubt about that. We have not discussed it in detail, but Peter Reid knows where he wants to be.
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