Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has admitted that he found the decision for Sunderland to sack Martin O'Neill "bizarre".
Black Cats chairman Ellis Short chose to remove O'Neill as manager following his side's defeat to Manchester United that left them just one point clear of the relegation zone.
He said on BBC's Match of the Day: "It's bizarre. They have gone down the route that Reading have (sacking Brian McDermott).
"To me he's been down, he's not been his usual, energetic self - whether he's known that something is going on behind the scenes I don't know.
"They are on a terrible run of form but it is the timing of it I find hard."
Sunderland are 16th in the Premier League.
