By Simon Austin BBC Sport Online

Sunderland fanzine editor Martyn McFadden says the sacking of Peter Reid has lifted a cloud from over the club and will allow them to concentrate on climbing the table.

Reid was fired on Monday following seven years at the North-East club.

And McFadden, who edits the fanzine "A Love Supreme", said the decision had become inevitable.

"There was a poll on a local radio station recently and more than 80% wanted him out.

"This has been a cloud hanging over the club for so long. At least now we can concentrate on the football and trying to do well."

But McFadden said the timing of the decision to sack Reid was bewildering.

"We were always expected to lose to Arsenal on Sunday and have scored nine goals in the last eight days - a third of our total for the whole of last season," he said.

"Chairman Bob Murray also gave Reid �10m to spend on Tore Andre Flo and Marcus Stewart in August. Why give him the money and then sack him?"

Reid left with Sunderland languishing in 17th place in the Premiership.

But the lowly league position was not the only thing that rankled with the fans, said McFadden.

"Not only have the results been poor, but so has the football. People want to be entertained, but we've been forced to watch some turgid stuff," he said.

David O'Leary, George Graham and Mick McCarthy have all been linked with the vacant hotseat at the Stadium of Light.