Former Sunderland defender Micky Gray has called on the Black Cats to replace manager Phil Parkinson with club legend Kevin Phillips.
Parkinson was only appointed Sunderland boss in October but the pressure is intensifying on the former Bolton and Bradford boss after Tuesday night's defeat to Burton Albion.
The 51-year-old has won just two of his opening 11 games in charge and fans inside the Stadium of Light chanted 'you're getting sacked in the morning' and booed his side off after their 2-1 loss to Burton Albion.
During Parkinson's brief tenure, Sunderland have exited the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Leasing.com Trophy and have slumped to 11th in the League One table.
Parkinson has spoken of the need for reinforcements in January and his target is to ensure Sunderland remain in touch with the promotion chasing sides heading into the winter transfer window.
But after 17 games Sunderland already find themselves nine points adrift of the automatic promotion places and 14 points behind league leaders Wycombe Wanderers.
If they are to win promotion to the Championship, it is more likely they do so via the play-offs and they remain just three points adrift of sixth placed Oxford.
Whether Parkinson will remain the man entrusted to get Sunderland there remains to be seen, with Donald watching on at the Stadium of Light last night as the fans turned on the manager.
Club legend Phillips threw his hat into the ring when Jack Ross was sacked in October but Sunderland opted to appoint Parkinson, given his track record of winning promotion from the division.
But after his poor start to life in the Sunderland hotseat, Phillips' former team-mate, Gray, is calling on the Black Cats' hierarchy to take a chance on a young manager who he believes will 'give the whole place a lift'.
"What is going on?" Gray tweeted after Sunderland's defeat to Burton Albion.
"So don't tell me about experienced managers no more. Get Kev Phillips in. What have we got to lose? [Frank] Lampard did okay (at Derby and Chelsea), [Steven] Gerrard too.. so why not Kev??? Give the whole place a lift."
