Another week, another set of Steve Bruce on the brink reports. No matter how many times senior club figures and media handlers deny their validity, this is a story that simply refuses to go away.
More stubborn than a red wine stain on a pristine white carpet, the pressure on Bruce is not going to vanish quickly.
For what it is worth, my information remains consistent. Bruce’s position is not under any immediate threat.
While his chief ally Niall Quinn is no longer chairman – concentrating instead on overseas development and international business links – owner Ellis Short has personally assured his manager he retains his full backing.
With just one win in eight games in all competitions this season, results have been disappointing, but at this stage, far from disastrous.
After seven games, the Black Cats are one point worse off in the table than Arsenal and Everton.
After seven games, it is hard to justify any manager’s position being under threat unless their team is bottom of the table, pointless, the fans are protesting and the players are clearly playing with the intention of earning him a P45.
In Sunderland’s last game before the international break, they were two goals down at home to West Bromwich Albion and disgruntlement was turning into open hostility towards Bruce.
By half-time the Black Cats were level and by the end of an entertaining game, they probably should have taken all three points.
The players are clearly still playing for the manager – half and perhaps the most important part of the battle – and there is a genuine desire at boardroom level to maintain stability rather than push the managerial ejector seat.
Bruce has spent a large chunk of the international break with Short in Korea, pushing the Sunderland brand in a potentially lucrative overseas market. Hardly the behaviour of a condemned man.
Yet, others continue to fuel the uncertainty. The latest reports over the weekend have even claimed Martin O’Neill – still out of work after walking out on Aston Villa at the start of last season – has already been lined up to replace Bruce when the bullet comes.
Bruce must feel like he is drinking in the last chance saloon with a selection of rather large knives sticking out of his back. It is unhelpful, distracting and unsettling, but it is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
It might be subdued if Sunderland win – or even secure a point at Arsenal on Sunday – but it remains in the background, simmering away and ready to boil over again as soon as a bad result emerges.
Like it or not, Bruce is fighting for his job even as those around him offer him protection. He cannot stop people speculating about his future, he cannot stop the rumours, all he can do is try to win football matches.
Two from the next four would be great given the opposition, but two and a couple of draws would be the sort of exceeding of expectations he needs to silence the doubters in his current predicament.
After the trip to the Emirates this weekend, Sunderland travel to bottom of the table Bolton before entertaining Darren Bent and Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light.
Should all three pass without success, the prospect of a visit to Old Trafford to take on champions Manchester United will hardly instil confidence a corner is about to be turned. Crunch time, therefore, could come at home to Fulham on November 19th.
Football is and always will be a results business. Bruce will live and die by them. He probably does not deserve to be under-pressure given the progress made over the last two years, but he is.
Regardless of the support he has at boardroom level and the understanding he has been shown, only a good run of results, not the odd one here and there, is going to change things for the better.
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