Martinez 'surprised' by Bruce sacking

Soccer: Roberto Martinez is surprised Steve Bruce was not given more time to allow his revamped Sunderland squad to settle.

Bruce was shown the door at the Stadium of Light after a string of poor results left the Black Cats 16th in the Premier League and just two points clear of the drop zone.

Wigan boss Martinez, whose side won 2-1 on Wearside at the weekend to leave Sunderland without a win in four games, was shocked the board were not more patient with Bruce after an influx of summer signings.

"That was a little bit of a surprise," he told Sky Sports News. "It's been a big turnaround in the summer. It's been a lot of players coming into that dressing room. You don't really know what's happening in other football clubs, but you feel that time is needed when you bring a lot of players into the football club just for the players to settle in, to feel themselves and how they can perform at their best. That always takes time.

"In football, unfortunately, nothing surprises you anymore. Stability and patience are two words that are needed in a football club."

While Sunderland's home defeat to the Latics appeared to be the final nail in Bruce's coffin, Martinez does not believe it was the trigger for his sacking.

"When there is a change in management, in any football club, it's because you're in the middle of a wrong dynamic of results. It's never for one result," he said. "That would never happen.

"You need to ask the people who make those decisions. They've got their ideas and their own targets and that goes over a period of time. I've never seen a change of management due to one result."