Sunderland Owner Tells David Moyes His Job Is Safe Even If Club Get Relegated in May

?Sunderland owner Ellis Short has told manager David Moyes that his job is safe, even if the Black Cats do get relegated at the end of the season. 

The Wearside club are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and are some seven points away from safety. With just 10 games of the season remaining, Sunderland are many people’s favourites to drop into the Championship, but reports in the ?Telegraph suggest that Moyes’ position as manager will not be under threat should that happen. 

Short is reportedly content with Moyes’ vision for the club and believes that the former Manchester United boss has the capabilities to rebuild the squad, which will inevitably be depleted should they get relegated in May. 

The Black Cats are expected to announce losses of close to £20m once again this year, although their finances will take a further hit if they are unable to retain their lucrative Premier League status. 

Short’s backing of Moyes has surprised many so far this season, considering the American’s previous when it comes to managerial appointments. 

Sunderland have had a change of head coach in all of the past six seasons, dating back to 2010, and the club’s reluctance to cut ties with Moyes has been further questioned due to all of their fellow relegation rivals opting to switch manager at some point during the current campaign. 

Despite history suggesting that Short has limited patience when it comes to managers, he is keen to avoid yet more upheaval at the Stadium of Light and is confident that Moyes can limit the damage that will come with relegation. 

Though the Scot and his team have yet to concede defeat in the fight for survival, Sunderland are thought to have contingency plans in place should they fail to climb out of the bottom three.

The pressure on their finances will automatically be released as each player is understood to have a release clause written into their contracts, stipulating that they will have their salary cut by 50% should they be relegated. 

This would half Sunderland’s £70m wage bill and further reductions would likely come through the sale of many first team stars, including top scorer Jermain Defoe who has recently hinted that his England ambitions means he will leave the club if they get relegated at the end of the season.