Mick and Macca set the pace in sack race

LONDON (AFP) — Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy and his Middlesbourgh counterpart Steve McClaren increasingly look as if they are engaged in a two-horse race to become the next Premiership manager to be axed.

Both the northeastern clubs have infuriated their fans with a string of dismal performances this season and recent days have seen signs that the patience of their respective chairmen is finally running out.

McCarthy, who has overseen 19 defeats in 24 Premiership outfits this season, appears to be most in danger following an angry outburst from Sunderland's chairman Bob Murray.

The kitchen tycoon took exception to comments from McCarthy suggesting that the club, promoted from the Championship last season, had effectively planned for relegation by failing to bring in enough experienced players to make Premiership survival a realistic possibility.

Murray admitted he had been infuriated at comments he branded, "blatantly untrue and insulting."

He added: ...