Ruthless self-assessment or not, Martin Emmerson, a BBC presenter and sports commentator as well as Sunderland fan, invites Salut! Sunderland to widen the audience for this damning photograph.

It was taken during a visit to Orkney, where he drew on all his reserves of professionalism to commentate on a local football match on the very day that SAFC were recording half their wins so far this season.

It was the opening game of the season when Martin, BBC Radio Newc**tle duties permitting, would normally have been in his seat in the West stand.

Instead of watching Michael Chopra’s last-gasp winner against Spurs, except on a pub television, he was reporting on the mighty Parish Cup Final between St Andrews and Sandwick at the “Pickie” centre in Kirkwall.

If you read on, you’ll see how the Sunderland Echo covered this bizarre diversion in its eminent local resident’s work. Guess who wrote it……and if you follow this link, you’ll see Martin’s essentially gloomy view – pre Fulham – of our prospects for the season.

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