FORMER Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson has led a chorus of prominent footballing figures calling for the removal of the club's board following yesterday's dismissal of manager Mick McCarthy.

McCarthy's three-year reign at the Stadium of Light came to an end yesterday morning, with his side all but assured of a return to the Championship following 22 defeats in their 28 Premiership matches this season.

Kevin Ball has been appointed as caretaker manager for the final ten games of the campaign, but the club's board has already begun the search for the fourth permanent manager of the past four years.

And, with Sunderland's debts standing at £38m, the future of chairman Bob Murray is increasingly being called into question.

"This is a football club that has had three managers over the last three-and-a-half years," said Wilkinson, who was McCarthy's predecessor at the Stadium of Light.

"Peter Reid's record before me was very good. Mick McCarthy's record after me was very good. Some would argue that my record was half-decent. Three managers have gone, but the board - the people who make these decisions - have remained at the club and still remain.

"If you do something wrong and you keep doing it, that's the definition of lunacy.

"You don't look down the tree but up, the board should ask where have we gone wrong?"

While McCarthy has been forced to carry the can for the club's failings this season, the supporters' ire has been focused on Murray.

A large banner bearing the words "Murray Out" was unfurled at the City of Manchester Stadium as Sunderland lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Sunday. Further demonstrations are expected when the Black Cats host Wigan this weekend.