Mick McCarthy sacked: Pressure was growing on Wearside last night for Sunderland's chairman, Bob Murray, to follow Mick McCarthy out of the club after the former Republic of Ireland manager was dismissed with his side 16 points adrift of safety in the Premiership and heading back to the Football League.

McCarthy was summoned to the Stadium of Light yesterday morning and told his three-year tenure had been terminated, with the assistant academy manager Kevin Ball taking charge until the end of the season.

Sunderland have only 10 points from their 28 matches, leaving them nine short of the Premiership's record low total, set by themselves in their previous top-flight campaign in 2003. McCarthy has lost 31 of his 37 matches at the higher level.

That dismal record hardly suggests his dismissal is a surprise, with local sympathy eroded further by the failure of the players recruited last summer to make their mark. But the timing of McCarthy's departure with only 10 games left has prompted raised eyebrows.

It is understood he had received private reassurances from the board that his future would not be discussed until the end of the season, only for the success of Glenn Roeder in stabilising Newcastle United since becoming caretaker manager last month to prompt Sunderland to turn to Ball in the hope he will have a similar effect.

That may prove elusive given the groundswell of antipathy towards Murray, with protests against his continued involvement expected. He has been a substantial shareholder since joining the board in 1984, with nine managers having departed in that time.

The club have made progress in terms of their facilities, but they are an estimated £35 million in debt. Murray admitted he had played a significant part in a miserable campaign after the Championship was won easily last year.

"As chairman, I take responsibility for what has proven to be an unsuccessful and heartbreaking season, despite the best intentions, efforts and expectations of everyone," said Murray. "I feel deeply sorry that the excitement and aspirations of all fans looking forward to a return to the Premier League have been rewarded in this way, and I apologise for this."

Murray had a very public disagreement with McCarthy last month after the manager suggested the club's transfer policy after promotion, with its severe financial constraints, reflected limited optimism. The chairman claimed that was "insulting" and "ludicrous", and yesterday said: "The club did not return to the Premiership just to make up the numbers and, whilst we fully expected it to be a tough first season back, none of us expected to be in the position we are today."

His faith in McCarthy was further eroded by the FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Brentford. Murray added: "We will be taking our time to appoint a successor for what will be another very important season for the club in 2006."

Alex McLeish, due to leave Rangers in the summer, would be a contender, with the League One pair of Brentford's Martin Allen and Colchester's Phil Parkinson also potential candidates.

McCarthy left the training ground yesterday saying "I've done my best".

Though his achievement in winning the Championship last season was remarkable given that he had to offload 23 players in cost-cutting measures, his failure to make better use of funds at his disposal last summer ultimately sealed his fate.

George Forster, chairman of the Sunderland Supporters' Club, said: "This is very sad, but something had to give. It perhaps should have happened a long time ago, but everyone knew there was no money. The players haven't been up to Premiership standard. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

The Sunderland years

2003

March 12th: Takes over as manager of struggling Sunderland on a rolling contract, their third manager of the season. Sunderland lose their nine remaining games and are relegated.

2004

April: Lose in promotion play-offs to Crystal Palace.

2005

April 29th: Leads Sunderland to the Championship title and back into the Premier League. They lose their first five matches.

November 26th: McCarthy labels his team "gutless" after a 1-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Birmingham City.

2006

January 29th: Sunderland are beaten 2-1 by third division Brentford in the FA Cup.

March 5th: Sunderland lose 2-1 at Manchester City, leaving them bottom with just 10 points, 16 points from safety with 10 games remaining.

March 6th: Club announce McCarthy has been sacked.