Sunderland has decided to let their midfielder Darron Gibson leave by mutual consent. According to recent reports, the Black Cats suspended the 30-year-old midfielder last month after he was charged with DUI (Drinking Under Influence) and now the club has decided to mutually terminate his contract and release him.
The Black Cats have confirmed on their official website that Gibson will depart the Stadium of Light after his suspension comes to an end. The Republic of Ireland player signed for the Tyneside outfit from Everton during the winter transfer period of 2017. He has gone on to make 30 appearances for Chris Coleman’s side since then. Gibson stayed loyal to Sunderland despite the club suffering the agony of relegation to the Skybet Championship last year.
The former Manchester United midfielder has featured in just 15 matches for the Black Cats this season with his last appearance coming on the new year’s day of 2018. He has a wealth of experience in English football while playing for Wolves, Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland over the last decade. Only time will tell whether the Black Cats’ decision to part ways with the midfielder turns out to be the right move.
Sunderland are currently in deep trouble as they find themselves in the relegation zone even though they managed to secure an impressive 4-1 victory away at Derby County on Saturday courtesy of goals from George Honeyman, Ashley Fletcher, Aiden McGeady and John O’Shea. Chris Coleman has a mammoth task of conjuring up a miracle comeback to save the club’s Skybet Championship lives going into the final stretch of the campaign. They are still five points away from safety with just 7 matches to go.
The departure of Gibson is likely to deplete the Black Cats’ midfield options but it should not have much effect on their survival hopes as the midfielder has not been a regular feature in Chris Coleman’s first-team during the course of this season. His exit could now drive the focus back on the club rather than the player’s off the field antics which might help them in their quest to save themselves from suffering back to back relegations in consecutive seasons.
The Tyneside outfit have the likes of Lee Cattermole, Jack Rodwell, Ovie Ejaria and George Honeyman vying for a place in Coleman’s starting eleven so they are well equipped to make a late push towards safety. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Gibson and whether the Black Cats are able to save themselves without his services this term.
