HAVE THE CLUB LISTENED TO US? Sunderland have sacked head coach Michael Beale after just 12 games in charge, following back-to-back Championship defeats. The 43-year-old was given a two-and-a-half year deal in December when he replaced the popular Tony Mowbray. However, Beale lost six games during his short stint including a 3-0 home FA Cup defeat by rivals Newcastle United. Recent defeats by Huddersfield and Birmingham have seen the Wearsiders slip to 10th in the table. Beale has struggled to appease Sunderland fans who met his appointment with discontent, despite the club lying just four points off the play-off places. This exit means Beale's last two jobs have ended in disappointment, following his dismissal by Rangers last October after only 43 matches and 10 months at the helm. His stint in charge was the shortest for a permanent manager in Sunderland's history, one match less than Paolo Di Canio's 13 in 2013. Assistant boss Mike Dodds held interim head coach duties between the departure of Mowbray on 4 December and arrival of Beale a fortnight later, and is likely to pick up those responsibilities again.