Ipswich Town legend Tony Mowbray has been sacked by Championship play-off contenders Sunderland, who sit ninth in the table.

Mowbray had a five-year stint at the Blues towards the end of his playing career, becoming team captain and helping them reach the Premier League in 2000. He scored the equalising goal in the Division One play-off final, where they beat Barnsley 4-2 to win promotion.

It was his Wembley debut and the last match of his playing career. He retired and became a coach at Town, taking over as caretaker manager following the sacking of George Burley and prior to the appointment of Joe Royle.

Following spells in charge of Hibernian, West Brom, Celtic, Middlesbrough, Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers, Mowbray took over at Sunderland, who lost boss Alex Neil to Championship rivals Stoke City.

He guided the Black Cats to a sixth place finish in their first season back in the second tier, although they were beaten in the play-off semi-finals by eventual winners Luton Town.

They were expected to kick on this season, but it hasn't gone to plan. Sunderland started with a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich at the Stadium of Light, although they quickly bounced back towards the latter stages of August.

A 5-0 win at home to Southampton at the start of September looked to be the turning point, but their inconsistency kept them out of the top six. They've failed to win any of their last three games, losing to Plymouth Argyle and Huddersfield Town before drawing Millwall.

Mowbray leaves Sunderland sitting just three points off the play-off places. They're due to face Ipswich at Portman Road on January 14th, 2024.