AFTER reading today in the Echo (Jan 17) about Jack Rodwell getting paid £70,000 a week - and I would bet some of his teammates are not far behind him - and Sunderland football club heading for League One.

I suggest that if they do get relegated they get rid of all these overpaid players when they are out of contract and start the season with the under-23 academy team.

The young lads may struggle for a while but with the fans behind them, which I am sure they will be, it won’t be long before they can hold their own.

Sunderland AFC will save a fortune in wages and the supporters will be watching homegrown players who will be trying their necks out instead of foreign mercenaries who couldn’t give a toss.

They will not win the Premier League but the fans will not be walking out before half time knowing they are watching lads who love and want to play for Sunderland AFC.

Dave Bowes, West Auckland