After a hugely disappointing 2017-18 campaign, Sunderland were preparing for life in League One and were looking forward to a fresh start under new management and ownership.

The Black Cats were looking to transform their fortunes after achieving back-to-back relegations, dropping from the Premier League down to League One in the space of two seasons.

But the mood around the Stadium of Light was optimistic going into the new season, with Stewart Donald taking over the club from Ellis Short, and appointing Jack Ross as manager.

Ross' main priority will have undoubtedly been to overhaul his squad in the summer transfer window, clearing out the deadwood that played their parts in the club's relegation to the third tier.

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He certainly began to do just that, with the likes of Jeremain Lens and Paddy McNair leaving the club for sizeable fees, however one player that fans were urging the club to get rid of was Jack Rodwell.

Here, we take a look at when the club announced that he would be leaving.

This was absolutely huge news for Sunderland Football Club. It was well documented how much Rodwell earned at the club, with reports claiming that the former Everton man was on around £43,000 a week at the Stadium of Light.

Having failed to agree to cancel his contract the previous year, the 28-year old made just two league appearances for the Black Cats as they were relegated from the Championship.

Due to his hefty wage packet, previous managers Simon Grayson and Chris Coleman found it extremely difficult to bring in any high-profile signings that could make a definitive impact at the club, so to have him off the wage bill would have been magnificent news for Ross as he began to reassemble his squad in the summer.

Naturally, Sunderland fans were delighted at this news...

Things haven't really improved in Rodwell's career since his departure from the Stadium of Light - the 28-year old has made just 14 league starts for Blackburn Rovers this season, and has failed to set the world alight at Ewood Park.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have achieved what they set out to this season. They are now a stable club on and off the pitch, with Jack Ross' men looking likely to finish in the automatic promotion spots this term.

Rodwell must go down as one of the club's worst signings from a financial point of view, and he is a player that Sunderland fans will want to forget for sure.