Latest outburst seals Diouf’s fate

Jan 31 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

EL-HADJI Diouf’s departure from Sunderland was prompted by a heated dressing-room row in which he railed against the club for failing to give him a first-team place and confronted team-mates.

Diouf’s unsatisfactory spell at the Stadium of Light ended yesterday when the winger re-joined former boss Sam Allardyce at Blackburn in a deal worth £3m – while Sunderland failed in a bid to bring Manchester City’s Tal Ben Haim in on loan.

While the striker’s departure has led to some accusations that the club’s January transfer dealings lack ambition, Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia let Diouf leave in an effort to restore dressing-room harmony.

It may have raised eyebrows given that he had failed to fulfil his potential since his summer switch to Wearside, but the club believe they have taken the sensible option as they embark on a top-flight survival fight.

The unacceptable manner of Diouf’s post-match intervention following Tuesday’s victory over Fulham effectively sealed the Senegal midfielder’s fate. He is understood to have criticised the club and threatened Anton Ferdinand, who had leapt to the

defence of his colleagues. Diouf was known to be deeply unhappy at failing to win a regular first-team berth and while Sbragia at first expressed his determination to keep hold of the player, his disruptive behaviour paved the way for his move to Blackburn.

The departure of Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda without having replacements lined up has attracted criticism from some elements of the Sunderland support but privately the club are happy at removing two unsettled players for no financial loss.

Roy Keane signed both over the summer believing they could play a part in moving the club to the next level but neither gamble has paid off.

With the club in the thick of a relegation fight, the dressing room spirit at Sunderland is vitally important to their chances of staying up. Sbragia considered Diouf’s latest indiscretion too serious to ignore.

Having worked with him at Bolton and unlocked some of his potential, Allardyce believes he will be able to get the best out of Diouf.

The midfielder will have to wait another week to make his debut, however, after missing the deadline to play a part in today’s relegation clash with Middlesbrough.

“He is a talented player. He can be a little wayward, as everybody knows, but hopefully I’ll be able to control him as much as I did when I was at Bolton,” said Allardyce.

Sunderland have thus far been unable to secure the defensive reinforcement that they have been seeking since the start of the month, but they have tied down Danny Collins to a long-term contract.

The 28-year-old has been one of Sunderland’s most consistent players over the last three years and has now signed a two-and-a-half year extension to his current contract.

He said: “I’m happy here and it’s good to sign for another two seasons after this. I think the club is going places.”

Sbragia continues to make slow progress on the transfer front, with the club showing little interest in following up an initial enquiry to West Ham about Calum Davenport.

There is also interest in Liverpool’s Sami Hyppia, although that deal was no closer to fruition last night – and Sunderland’s preference for a loan signing has made it more complicated for them.

Reports in the US have claimed that the club had attempted to secure a six-month loan deal for former Manchester United defender Jonathan Spector, while The Journal understands that Sbragia could be prepared to turn to the Continent to strengthen his back four.

The club are believed to be tracking a player based in Holland – although Sbragia’s preference for a player with Premier League experience is well-documented.