‘What on earth’, ‘this isn’t right’: Some fans slate controversial Sunderland decision

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A number of Sunderland fans have taken to Twitter to give their thoughts on Bali Mumba’s loan switch away from the Stadium of Light.

The 18-year-old midfielder is highly rated at Sunderland and has made 10 first-team appearances for the Black Cats, according to Transfermarkt.

Former Sunderland boss Jack Ross previously said of Mumba, in conversation with Chronicle Live: “He’s got brilliant attributes and I like him.

“He’s an asset to the football club and he’ll go on to have a good career as long as he keeps doing what he’s doing because his desire to get better is really good.”

Phil Parkinson, who is yet to give Mumba a senior appearance, originally decided against sending him out on loan, in conversation with the same outlet in January.

“Bali is still a young lad, really, and he was progressed quickly to the first-team scene – and rightly so, because he is a talent,” said Parkinson.

“He is a player that we want to keep around our club. Do we want to push him into a National League scenario just yet? Probably not.”

However, Mumba has played only once for the senior side this season, in the EFL Trophy, and game time has continued to elude him for much of the campaign.

As a result, the Sunderland hierarchy now sanctioned a loan switch to Northern Premier League side South Shields for the rest of the season.

The reaction amongst the Black Cats fanbase was mixed, with some bemoaning his temporary drop to non-league level and others thinking it’s a decent enough arrangement.

Here is some of the social media reaction to Mumba’s move: