Rehab Would Be Cool, Cats

Nyron feels sorry for Coleman.

- Richard Dore

BACK in 2008 and with Nyron Nosworthy leading their Premier League defence, Sunderland fans had a catchy chant about the centre-half, sung to the tune of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’.

Fast-forward a decade and, struggling at the bottom of the Championship, it’s the Black Cats that could do with a spell in the Betty Ford Clinic.

Nosworthy hung up his boots two years ago and is now involved in property development. But he enjoyed the peak of his career over seven seasons at the Stadium of Light, six of them in the top flight.

Decline

The 37-year-old retains a fond place in his heart for the club that used to chant about his defensive prowess and is sad to witness their decline – but knows who he holds responsible.

“Ellis Short (Sunderland’s American owner) is the main man, isn’t he?,” said the former Gillingham, Watford and Sheffield United defender. “He’s the one with the big wallet and calls the shots overall. I don’t know him too well, but I do know that for him it’s a business.