---
title: "Flashback: When Sunderland sacked Didier Ndong"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/flashback-when-sunderland-sacked-didier-ndong/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ally Darlow"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-04-12T06:35:40Z"
modified: "2019-04-12T06:35:40Z"
---

# Flashback: When Sunderland sacked Didier Ndong

**Sunderland fans are getting back to winning ways this season. After a torrid two years of Premier League relegation, awful spending, Championship relegation and becoming a laughing stock on Netflix, things are finally looking up. Things started to get better last September, though, around the time Didier Ndong was sacked from his contract.**

> [#SAFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) provide an update on Didier Ndong.
>
> Read more [https://t.co/QawDQt8Duf](https://t.co/QawDQt8Duf)
>
> — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) [24 September 2018](https://twitter.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1044260733146603520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

At the time of his sacking, the news was massive for the fans. Ndong had proven to be an awful character to have at the club, even if he did impress in his first season in the Premier League when the Black Cats were relegated. Regardless, any player you *[sign for over £13 million](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37235209)* should have professionalism as a minimum, but the Gabonese international lacked even that.

His complete lack of respect for Sunderland as a club was disgusting. Having signed in summer 2016, the 24-year-old then played his last game for the club in January 2018 before failing to report for training for the start of pre-season in July, and it will have come as no surprise to the fans that the club refused to put up with him for long, as he joined Papy Djilobodji and Jack Rodwell on the list of players whose contracts were terminated.

You can read the Mackems’ delighted reaction to the Ndong news last September here:

> Good riddance [pic.twitter.com/3vWiaQdIG3](https://t.co/3vWiaQdIG3)
>
> — David Hindmarsh (@DavidHindmarsh7) [September 24, 2018](https://twitter.com/DavidHindmarsh7/status/1044260977389252608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/IanIanrobrich/status/1044278946165116930

> Great stance taken! Hopefully more clubs will follow. Further evidence of very good leadership from @stewartdonald3 and his Senior leadership team. Media should be covering this story to act as a deterrent 2the wrong type players and agents in the game [@davidpreece12](https://twitter.com/davidpreece12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@beINSPORTS](https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Gareth Mordey MSD (@GarethMordey) [September 24, 2018](https://twitter.com/GarethMordey/status/1044289847366758401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> good riddance
>
> — Rob Rodgerson (@RobRodgerson) [September 25, 2018](https://twitter.com/RobRodgerson/status/1044528042138390528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Great move doubt the players will be that bothered as millions in bank
>
> — philip emmerson (@fonz1971) [September 25, 2018](https://twitter.com/fonz1971/status/1044497700484534272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/AdLovesCurry/status/1044271937680281602

> Bye, hope the door doesn’t hit him on the way out
>
> — Daniel Jenks (@DanielJenks89) [September 24, 2018](https://twitter.com/DanielJenks89/status/1044270676192964608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> well played, stop letting these so called professionals get away with money grabbing
>
> — Keith Dickinson (@KeithY2Dickie) [24 September 2018](https://twitter.com/KeithY2Dickie/status/1044268458274443265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Mackems were overjoyed to hear that they’d never have to see Ndong set foot in Sunderland again, and have loved life in League One since his exit as they continue to push for promotion.