Sunderland and head coach Michael Beale are to part company after just 12 games, We Are Sunderland understands.

Beale was appointed as Tony Mowbray’s successor in December with the club struggling for form in the Championship table having left Scottish Premiership side Rangers earlier this season.

But after a run of just four wins in 12 games across all competitions, Beale is now set to leave the Stadium of Light following Saturday’s defeat at Mowbray's Birmingham City.

Defeat at St. Andrew’s has left Sunderland four points off the top six in the Championship table with just 13 games remaining with a decision now being made with regards to Beale’s future at the club.

Beale lost his first game in charge 3-0 at home to Coventry City where supporters vented their frustrations towards the new head coach before taking seven points from nine over the Christmas period.

Beale then faced the prospect of a first Wear-Tyne derby in almost eight years after Sunderland were paired together with Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup – a tie which brought scrutiny for the club due to a number of off-field decisions, something which Beale, perhaps, was caught up in.

A limp 3-0 defeat to Newcastle sparked a run of three consecutive defeats for Beale in charge which culminated in large sections of the Stadium of Light crowd calling for his exit following a 1-0 reverse to Hull City, with supporters continuing to show their frustrations online with #BealeOut trending on social media for a number of days.

It led to Beale finding himself under further pressure when hitting back at those claims when suggesting supporters ‘didn’t want me in the first place’ before he was able to find a slight reprieve with victories over Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle.

But after back-to-back defeats away from home to Huddersfield Town and Birmingham, with Sunderland now further away from the play-off spots than when Beale was first appointed, the 43-year-old looks set to leave the Stadium of Light with Mike Dodds expected to take interim charge for the second time this season.

More to follow...