Sunderland, Hull and Middlesbrough struggle to adapt to life after relegation | Louise Taylor

Despite each receiving £47m in parachute payments, the trio have all changed managers and fallen well short of their aims

Middlesbrough’s owner, Steve Gibson, predicted his team were set to “smash the Championship,” and Hull City’s new manager Leonid Slutsky spoke of celebrating promotion by “singing, rapping and dancing.” Three hours’ drive up the road at Sunderland, Slutsky’s freshly-installed Sunderland counterpart, Simon Grayson, revealed his ambitions to manage “this great club” in the Premier League.

Fast forward a little over half a season, and despite each being in receipt of £47m worth of parachute payments this term alone, the trio of sides relegated from the top tier last May have all changed manager.

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