Phil Parkinson has branded Aiden McGeady and Chris Maguire as unprofessional after the pair were pictured eating a McDonald's in the wake of Sunderland's defeat to Gillingham last weekend.
But Parkinson insists that Maguire can still play his way back into the Sunderland team, while making the decision that for McGeady his Sunderland career is over.
A picture did the rounds on social media following a second straight defeat for the club, which left them 11th in the League One table - five points off the play-off places. It showed the pair eating food from the popular fast food chain while in club tracksuits.
And while Parkinson was insistent it wasn't the sole reason, the picture clearly hasn't helped as he confirmed that the club have told McGeady he can find a new club in January. He's been made to train away from the first team in the meantime.
Parkinson said: "I got sent the picture. Obviously it's not professional, is it? So it's not helpful, but that is not the sole reason why this decision has been made."
While McGeady's Sunderland career appears as good as over, that is not the case for Maguire.
Pictured with McGeady eating the McDonalds, Parkinson says the situation has been dealt with in-house, but believes Maguire is working hard to prove his worth to the club - although he admitted he does need to drop weight and get fitter.
"To be fair to Chrissy, in the last three weeks he's been doing extra training every single day," Parkinson said.
"He's losing weight, he's getting himself fitter, which he needs to do, and he's buying into what we're asking him to do. I'm pleased with that."
Meanwhile, pundit Chris Sutton has defended his former Celtic team-mate McGeady over the incident.
The outspoken BT Sport pundit took to Twitter to suggest it had been blown out of proportion.
He wrote: "Footballers eat takeaway shocker... How dare they eat!!! Why don’t we ban footballers from eating anything other than lettuce and carrots! McGeady is 33 and has had a very good career by making sacrifices..."
