Sunderland players 'really enjoyed' working with Michael Beale, claims midfielder

If there was a falling out between the Sunderland players and Michael Beale, it's apparently news to Dan Neil.

Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil says ousted head coach Michael Beale 'had some really good ideas' as he accepted the players must take some responsibility for his sacking. 

Beale was given his marching orders by Sunderland after just 12 matches, half of which he lost. 

There have been rumours, fuelled by Beale's failure to acknowledge Trai Hume on the touchline at Birmingham in his final game in charge, that he had already lost the dressing room and the players didn't enjoy working with him.

Sunderland fans not to blame for Michael Beale failure, says former boss

Neil, though, has attempted to put the record straight, saying there was no issue from the players' side of things and they felt they let Beale down on the pitch.  

“I want to wish the old gaffer well in whatever he chooses to do next,” Neil told safc.com.

“I think a lot of the boys, if not all of them, really enjoyed working under him and we thought that he had some really good ideas.

“It just didn't quite work out and you know as players we have to take some responsibility for that

“We didn't deliver kind of what he wanted on the pitch from us and I think you can see that in the last run of results.

“So yeah, like I said, we have to take some responsibility for that and I know all the boys wish him well and whatever he chooses to do next.”

Sunderland suffer Jack Clarke injury blow ahead of tough run of games

READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS

• Sunderland contract situation: Who is nearing the end of their current deal?
• Top Ten: Sunderland's best ever January signings
• Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham names two former Sunderland players as his heroes
• Jordan Willis and seven other Sunderland careers ruined by injury
• Sell to thrive, not sell to survive: The Sunderland 'model' explained - in their own words
• Luke O'Nien and eight other Sunderland players who successfully changed positions