Michael Beale handed brutal managerial reality check as Sunderland sacking leaves one big question

Michael Beale has been handed a brutal truth following his Sunderland sacking.

The former Rangers gaffer was hardly in the door at the Stadium of Light but has been sent packing after just 12 GAMES. It was always going to be a hard gig with the supporters not too impressed over his initial arrival but after six defeats in his first dozen games, the board have acted and have placed Mike Dodds into the hot seat on an interim basis while they assess their next move.

It's the THIRD managerial gig in a short window for Beale after he left QPR after just a number of months to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox. He was heavily backed in the summer in Govan with a massive overhaul to the Rangers squad but a poor start domestically coupled up with Champions League elimination earned him the boot. Philippe Clement has since come in and won a trophy, booked Europa League last 16 football and leapfrogged Celtic at the Premiership summit with 12 games to play.

Beale's latest managerial exit was a hot topic on talkSPORT with Jeff Stelling joined by Andy Townsend in the absence of Ally McCoist. Townsend delivered his views on the former Black Cats boss and reckons he may well be someone who is more suited at being a No2 with some individuals not cut out to be a manger in their own right.

Speaking on the breakfast show, he said: "With regards to Michael Beale, a lot has happened in a short space of time. I think he had been at Liverpool in their academy over the years then moved on and went out to South America to try and learn his trade as a coach.

"He's then bounced into three jobs pretty quickly. In and out of them. QPR, Rangers and now Sunderland. You've got to be very, very careful.

"Some people are not cut out to be a