Bent Betrayal Hurts Because He Was Loved So Much

That is the bottom line. As with so much in life, particularly the work place, Bent's decision boiled down to money and a desire to earn a load more of it, £20,000-a-week more to be precise.

If we're talking football motives, why would you leave a team which is sitting sixth in the Premier League for one which is only keeping itself out of the bottom three on goal difference and who have been beaten twice by the Black Cats this season?

Why would you move to a club where the manager, when Sunderland visited earlier this month, was booed and jeered by his own supporters and walked down the dugout with refrains of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from the home fans?

Sunderland look like a club which is capable of progress under Steve Bruce, Aston Villa look like one which is in danger of going backwards under Gerard Houllier. Aston Villa are in a relegation battle, Sunderland are pushing for Europe. The club have, effectively, swapped places over the last 12 months.

Indeed, Bent talked about the potential and league positions being false, but Villa are not a bigger club than Sunderland and they do not have more potential either.

Okay, so they've spent more consecutive time in the Premier League and they have won a few cups in my lifetime, unlike Sunderland - or come to think of it Newcastle - but they are no more likely to compete for silverware than either of the North East's big two in their present guise.

The reason Villa are where they are now is down to Martin O'Neill and he isn't there anymore.

The reason Newcastle broke into the top four was down to Sir Bobby Robson and he isn't there anymore.

The reason Sunderland are pushing for a top six or top eight finish is down to Steve Bruce and he is still there!

As the Yanks say, do the math. No, Bent knows the real reason for his decision and that is why he looked so uncertain.

He didn't expect to face such hostility in his opening press conference, but the Midlands press pack were merely underlining my argument.

They will be delighted Villa have managed to sign such a quality goalscorer with such a wonderful track record, but that doesn't mean they have to understand why Bent has left Sunderland. They don't.

He does and it is, I'm afraid, because Bent is one of the nicest footballers I have met, down to cold, hard cash and a perception he was under-valued at the Stadium of Light. This was the third time he has tried to leave and clubs and managers simply can't hold on to players like that long term.

Slighted by the failure to improve his contract, it was a situation his agent could manipulate perfectly, and it also means Bent will be that little bit closer to his family home in Cambridgeshire.

Bent will be a brilliant signing for Villa and I'm sure his goals will help keep them in the Premier League.

His loss is big blow to Sunderland as Bruce is going to have to do what he can in the transfer window, patch up his squad and sign a proper replacement in the summer. It may well cost them continental competition in 2011.

The departure of Bent leaves a big hole to fill - he has scored roughly 50% of the team's goals under Bruce - and, despite a major dip in form since the end of October, he has still scored nine times this term.

He was the talisman of the Bruce team and his departure hurts. He talked about becoming a Sunderland legend, of loving the North-East, the club, the fans and the region, yet all the time Darren Bent was thinking about money and how much he could earn of it.

He is not alone in that, but it is because of everything he said while he was a Sunderland player, that it will hurt so much to see him wearing another club's colours.