OTD (28/09/1989): Smith Takes Financial Gamble To Bring Star To Roker

It probably goes without saying, but Sunderland AFC weren't in a good place when we dropped to the third tier of English football in 1987.

There was real potential of Sunderland staying down in the lower leagues for the long term. Young chairman Bob Murray had only recently taken over from Tom Cowie and had to deal with the fall out from the Lawrie McMenemy era. This also meant dealing with the financial impact.

McMenemy was on big money, and some of the players he brough to the club were as well. Then there was the state of Roker Park, which was crumbling and required a lot of TLC. Finances were tight and that meant the deal to bring in Denis Smith and Viv Busby from York City was in jeopardy when they demanded a fee of £20,000 for the pair.

Sunderland only got their man due to Smith suggesting he would pay the fee out of his own pocket if he didn't get Sunderland back into Division Two at the first time of asking – which he did.

Smith brough in some bargains to the club that included Marco Gabbiadini (£80,000), John Kay (£22,500), Colin Pascoe (£70,000) and John MacPhail (£23,000), and we not only won the Third Division title, but went on to consolidate in Division Two by finishing 11th in the 1988/89 season.

This raised expectation levels for the second season in the second tier, especially because we had flirted around the play-offs for periods before dropping off. This was dampened however, by the fact only Paul Hardyman was the only signing during the summer when he signed from Portsmouth for an eventual £130,000 that was set by a tribunal.

The season started well with a win at Swindon Town, but Ipswich Town came to Roker a few days later and won 4-2 to put us back in our place. Ahead of the third game against Middlesbrough Smith had secured another signing when Paul Bracewell arrived at Roker for a second time, this time from Everton on an initial one-month loan deal.

Bracewell had been superb in his year on Wearside before moving to Everton where he went close to completing the treble in his first season. His performances on that level resulted in Bobby Robson calling him up to the England squad and had it not been for an injury sustained at St James Park in a tackle with Billy Whitehurst, Bracewell would have no doubt played a lot more games for Everton and England.

As it was, he was looking to get back to full fitness and play again and gave his former Stoke City teammate Denis Smith a call to see if that could be at Sunderland. Smith jumped at the chance and Bracewell returned to the Sunderland midfield for a second time against Middlesbrough at Roker in a 2-1 victory.

Over the next few weeks Bracewell took us up another level and many clubs were linked with taking him on permanently, including Newcastle United who he faced for Sunderland in a goalless draw on the 24th September 1989.

The assumption was that Sunderland were not in a position to pay the money Everton were expecting or the wages Bracewell would require. However, on this day in 1989, just four days after the Wear-Tyne derby and the day after a Sunderland victory at Filbert Street against Leicester City, it was announced Bracewell had signed a three-year contract to sign for the Lads.

Finances were such that the Echo described how "the board of directors have moved heaven and earth to complete one of the most expensive deals in the club's history to land a quality player" and "if the deal is putting a tremendous strain on Sunderland's financial resources, it is one gamble they simply could not afford to take".

Denis Smith was taking a risk but was clearly pleased at getting his man:

The signing of Paul Bracewell has got to be a very important step for the club. The staff call him 'Quality' and that is what he is. If you put quality in your side you get better as long as they fit in with what you've got. He fits in very well. I want to thank the part the chairman has played in helping to bring Paul here, because a signing of this nature puts a tremendous drain on your resources. We are not a selling club, but that will not stop me looking to bring other players to the club. That's one we have needed however, and I am delighted. Paul realises we have a chance of winning something. He thinks he can be a very big influence with the club, not only this season, but in the future.

The signing of Paul Bracewell has got to be a very important step for the club. The staff call him 'Quality' and that is what he is. If you put quality in your side you get better as long as they fit in with what you've got. He fits in very well.

I want to thank the part the chairman has played in helping to bring Paul here, because a signing of this nature puts a tremendous drain on your resources. We are not a selling club, but that will not stop me looking to bring other players to the club. That's one we have needed however, and I am delighted.

Paul realises we have a chance of winning something. He thinks he can be a very big influence with the club, not only this season, but in the future.

Everton safeguarded their interests by inserting a clause in the deal which will entitled them to part of any profit should Bracewell move on. Their manager, Colin Harvey, praised Bracewell and his partnership with Peter Reid as it was announced he left Goodison:

Their partnership was outstanding. Paul is a smashing footballer and a good type. We wish him well. I hope everything goes well for him. He has worked very hard to get back into top class football.