English League Championship: Niall Quinn will this week swing the axe after his under-achieving Sunderland players slumped to a 3-1 loss at Southend in their fourth defeat in four games this season.
Two goals from centre-half Adam Barrett and a late strike from forward Lee Bradbury put Southend three goals up against a side more used to Old Trafford and Anfield than Roots Hall following their relegation from the Premiership last term.
An injury-time consolation from Jon Stead failed to mask another woefully inadequate performance from the Black Cats and chairman Quinn, who installed himself as manager in the summer, is ready to take "drastic" action in an attempt to halt the alarming slide.
"We realised today there are a percentage of players in the dressingroom who are simply not good enough," said Quinn.
"We've put our arm round them and looked after them over the past few weeks but the losing mentality is rampant in this dressingroom. When you see that mentality in our team you realise some of them just aren't going to make the cut.
"I'll have to do something pretty drastic and we should see an influx of players in the next few days. I hope to eradicate the losing mentality with the new players.
"It's affecting even the good players and that has to change. We've tried to change it with them but the levels of negativity at the club are unprecedented. The steeliness you need to come to places like this and win isn't there.
"It's something that has crept in. There used to be a winning mentality. It seems to be all or nothing with Sunderland and you have to be a tough player to play for us."
Quinn also admitted his own future remains uncertain, having taken the reins after failing to tempt a big-name manager to the Stadium of Light following his takeover of the club.
"I'm not blameless," he added. "Maybe I could have done a better job with them. If the right person comes along to take the club forward, I promise there is no pride here and I'll walk. But whoever comes in will have a real job turning this around."
