Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips is critical of sports director Lee Congerton.
The Leicester City coach says the role just hasn't worked at Sunderland.
He wrote for the Evening Chronicle: "For me, the director of football system has not worked out at Sunderland - and I cannot think of many clubs in England where it has worked for that matter.
"Managers have to be given the freedom to bring in the players they want, rather than rely on a director of football to do that side of the job for them. After all, when results go badly it is the manager (or head coach) who pays the price - and that does not seem fair if they have not had the final say over players.
"Now Sam Allardyce is in charge at Sunderland, one thing I am confident of is he will have total control over signings.
"He will not want to delegate that to someone else."