Former Reading manager Steve Coppell has criticised the owners of Premier League clubs following the sacking of Martin O'Neill at Sunderland.

The Black Cats lost 1-0 to Manchester United yesterday to leave themselves just a point above the relegation zone.

Coppell, though, does not believe the result impacted on the sacking and says that it is typical of the current climate of club ownership.

"For me, I can only think there was a personal confrontation after the game," Coppell told BBC Radio Five Live. "Martin, in his interviews after, looked calm, collected and inspired for the challenge ahead.

"You can only presume there was some dialogue after the game. We are in the realms I'm afraid of spoilt-brat reactions because it is their toy.

"There is a way of doing things in English football that has gone out of the window. We have just come back from an international break. If you were going to make a change constructively, you would have done it then."

Sunderland have not yet appointed a successor to O'Neill.