On This Day (7 May 1985) Ashurst Job Safe Despite Relegation, Says Cowie
With relegation confirmed, all eyes were on the manager’s chair.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 24: Sunderland manager Len Ashust gives the thumbs up prior to the 1985 Milk League Cup Final against Norwich City at Wembley Stadium on March 24th, 1985 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive) It was the morning after the night before. Sunderland were waking up as a relegated club, after a defeat at Leicester sealed a fate that had looked increasingly likely as April progressed.
The Milk Cup run had perhaps taken some attention away from the league danger that was never lurking too far away, and the 2-0 defeat to the Foxes, thanks to two goals from ’long-term Sunderland target’ Gary Linker, sealed relegation with one game left. In truth, the turgid run of form since beating Norwich at Carrow Road a week before Wembley deserved little more. In 11 games the club had won just one and drawn two, and after a 4-0 hammering away at Villa Park, the game against the Foxes put the final nails in a well built coffin.
After the game, Ashurst said: Relegation has been staring us in the face for some weeks, but our travelling fans typified tonight what we have going for us. It shows what an overwhelming obligation we have to get back up at the first attempt. Of course, most reading this will know that Len Ashurst wasn’t in charge come the start of the next season, so it’s interesting to look at Chairman Tom Cowie’s immediate thoughts on the manager’s culpability or otherwise in the immediate aftermath.
Because, as far as Mr Cowie was concerned, Len was staying despite demotion. Len Ashurst has a contract for three years. He has just started it and there is no reason to suppose that he won’t continue in charge.