McCarthy adamant over duo
McCarthy adamant over duo
Mick McCarthy has told Michael Bridges and Sean Thornton that they are wasting their time in attempting to salvage their Sunderland careers after insisting that both players remain surplus to requirements at The Stadium of Light.
The transfer-listed pair returned to Wearside this week determined to change their manager's mind but, with McCarthy adamant that his decision to make them available for sale in May was the correct one, it seems neither has a chance of succeeding.
Bridges and Thornton will both remain in the North-East next week when the Black Cats head to North America for a 13-day pre-season tour which will include games in Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. And McCarthy, speaking to the Evening Chronicle, has urged them to use their time wisely by finding new employers.
"They will not be travelling to us to North America because they are both still available for transfer," he said. "It is up to them to train and to get themselves as fit as they can and get themselves new clubs, that is what is expected of them and there is no reason why that should not happen."
That McCarthy has refused to change his position on Thornton isn't surprising. But with his search for a striker still ongoing - the Black Cats boss has failed to sign Kenny Miller, Heidar Helguson and Ricardo Fuller so far this summer - Bridges returned for pre-season training with genuine hopes of winning a reprieve.
It seems he will not be given the chance to do so. But with both players still under contract - Bridges until next summer, Thornton until 2007 - a lack of interest in the pair could prove problematic.
"We have had no great interest in them, a couple of phone enquiries but that is all," said a manager who hopes the situation will be resolved before he returns from North America on 25 July. "If we come back and they are still at Sunderland I will deal with it."
