Dick Advocaat, Sunderland Part Company: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Dick Advocaat walked away from his position as Sunderland manager on Sunday, departing the club with immediate effect.

The Black Cats confirmed the news via their official Twitter account:

Advocaat leaves the North East outfit floundering in 19th in the league having failed to win a single game all season. He explained his reason for the timing, per Rob Harris of the Associated Press:

As their league position would suggest, Sunderland have been abject in all quarters throughout the campaign so far. They have mustered only eight goals and have been typically abysmal at the back, conceding 18 times—more than any other team in the division.

The Dutchman took over at the Stadium of Light in March and picked up three wins as he helped the Black Cats stay in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth.

Advocaat was due to retire in the summer at his wife's request, but after widespread appeals from Sunderland supporters he performed a U-turn and stayed with the club.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Retirement now seems the most likely scenario for the 68-year-old, who despite his 35 years of coaching experience and 15 managerial honours was unable to transform Sunderland's fortunes.

The Black Cats' search for a replacement will now begin, and the club is used to replacing their manager midway through the season on the way to survival having done so with Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Advocaat himself in recent years.

However, with the team failing to significantly develop on the pitch or claw their way out of the mire of perennial relegation dogfights, such a run is bound to come to an end at some point unless Advocaat's replacement can have a powerful and positive long-term impact.

According to Paul Hetherington and Clive Hetherington of the Daily Star, one such candidate could be Sam Allardyce, although Burnley boss Sean Dyche and former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson are said to be favourites.

Allardyce wouldn't represent an exciting choice given his reputation for "long-ball" football, and his time at Newcastle United won't ingratiate him to the Sunderland fans.

However, he would give Sunderland some much-needed stability and make them a tougher proposition to beat, and given the Black Cats' disastrous showings in recent years that might actually be an exciting proposition after all.