Sunderland have found themselves under the microscope once again over the past week with the release of the Netflix series following their relegation to League One hitting the headlines. 

One thing that has become apparent since then, however, is how good a job the likes of Stewart Donald have done since arriving at the club.

A new era appears to have dawned on the club. Ellis Short and the rest of the powers that be have largely been turfed out, with Donald keen to take Sunderland back to the top.

The likes of Papy Djilobodji, Jeremain Lens, Lamina Kone, Wahbi Khazri, Didier Ndong and Jack Rodwell all leaving in the summer, a new era felt like it was beginning to dawn.

Jack Ross has rejuvenated the club with personnel who truly want to be there and are not using the Black Cats as an easy payday.

But there is still work to be done until they can truly usher in that new era.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, Ross will certainly be keen to bring in some new recruits to boost the club's promotion hopes.

But it is the outgoings that should be top of their priorities, specifically two players that keep them tied to the past.

Bryan Oviedo and Aiden McGeady are the only two players who remain in the squad who were signed in that three to four year period of reckless spending and wild wages.

These two players will ultimately continue to hold the club back with their large salaries and ultimately must be sold in January.

Sure, Sunderland could well still win promotion with them in their side. They are very talented players. But they would be far better off being sold so the club can bring in four or five players with the freed up budget.

Only when these two have departed will the new era at the Stadium of Light truly dawn.