According to Louise Taylor of The Guardian, Lee Congerton, Sunderland’s sporting director has been placed on gardening leave and will have no involvement at all in the upcoming transfer window.
Lee Congerton tendered his resignation after the departure of Dick Advocaat so this has come as no surprise. After Advocaat was sacked Sunderland owner Ellis Short told Congerton he needed to work out his 12- month notice period and he set him the task of choosing a new manager. He hired the man at the helm currently, Sam Allardyce. Although Allardyce has an amicable relationship with Congerton, he is the club’s manager, therefore, he has complete power over all transfers and that is usually Congerton’s position.
With new manager Allardyce away all week delegating coaching duties and communicating with other clubs about possible January transfers, it seems the right time for Congerton’s exit. It now only seems like a matter of time until a formal agreement is made between Congerton and Short,
Allardyce attempts to bolster his squad in the upcoming transfer window. He has already travelled around England and to some of Europe and if his targets are secured the contract negotiations will be carried out by Margaret Byrne and Ryan Sachs, chief executive and club secretary.
