 In the summer of 1991 , Stoke chairman Peter Coates offered Smith the vacant management position at the club , but Smith decided that potentially being sacked by his hometown club would be too intense an experience emotionally , and chose to stay loyal to Sunderland . This was despite finances being tight at Sunderland as the club saved the money to build the Stadium of Light . However , after just 4 wins in the opening 14 games of 1991 – 92 , Smith decided to sell star striker Gabbiadini to Crystal Palace for £ 1 @.@ 8 million in order to raise funds to improve the squad . He then spent £ 350 @,@ 000 on Celtic left @-@ back Anton Rogan and brought in strikers Don Goodman ( £ 900 @,@ 000 from West Bromwich Albion ) and John Byrne ( £ 225 @,@ 000 from Brighton & Hove Albion ) . Smith was sacked on 30 December 1991 , with Sunderland lying 17th in the Second Division . His former assistant Malcolm Crosby took Sunderland to the 1992 FA Cup Final , in which they were beaten by Liverpool . 
