Michael Beale left Sunderland players furious after giving himself the day off but forcing team to go in for training after defeat

Michael Beale took the day off following a defeat whilst he ordered his Sunderland players to come in for training, talkSPORT understands.

The Black Cats have sacked the former Rangers and Queens Park Rangers manager just two months after his appointment.

Mike Dodds, who has been part of the club's coaching team since 2021, will now serve as interim head coach once again until the end of the season.

talkSPORT understands Beale lost the dressing room, with the Sunderland players particularly unhappy at being made to do extra training after a defeat, while the manager himself took the day off.

Beale and fan favourite Trai Hume appeared to sum up the mood between the players and the manager when the latter was substituted in the 2-1 defeat to his predecessor Tony Mowbray's Birmingham on Saturday.

The ex-Aston Villa first team coach appeared to ignore his defender as he left the field, with fans left furious after images showed Hume extending a hand out to his manager, only to receive nothing in return.

Beale was forced to apologise after the game, writing on social media: «Trai Hume is a fantastic player for our club. He gives everything for his teammates and the staff. I wasn't aware that I missed his handshake until being asked about it post-game. I immediately went to see him to apologise.

»Trai passed a fitness test this morning to play the game and I cannot hold him in higher regard as a man or professional. He is an example of everything that is good about a young footballer and our team."

However, despite his apology, the incident with Hume appears to be the straw that broke the camel's back for the manager's time at the Stadium of Light as well as their back-to-back defeats.

The London-born manager was in charge for just