Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore joined Gateshead on loan during the second half of the 2025/26 season.
Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore’s hopes of securing a summer move to Gateshead have been placed in jeopardy by uncertainty over manager Rob Elliot’s future with the National League club.
The Echo understands the versatile forward was in line for a permanent move to the International Stadium after enjoying a promising loan spell with the Tynesiders. That stint came to an end on the final day of the league season when Moore racked up his first senior goal by finding the net in a defeat at Altrincham before returning to Sunderland amid uncertainty over his future with the Black Cats.
Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore joined Gateshead on loan during the second half of the 2025/26 season (photo Jack McGraghan)placeholder image
Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore joined Gateshead on loan during the second half of the 2025/26 season (photo Jack McGraghan) | Jack McGraghan
As reported by The Echo earlier this month, Moore is expected to leave the club when his contract comes to an end this summer - but there was an expectation the 21-year-old would pen a permanent deal with Gateshead after Heed boss Rob Elliot openly admitted he was hoping to tie down the forward’s long-term future.
Speaking in April, the former Newcastle United goalkeeper said: “He is still learning the game, he’s getting his fitness levels back and he was brilliant when he came on against Carlisle but you can still see he is lacking a little bit of match fitness, which is a scary thing.
“He is really driven, he wants to do well, he wants to play, he is emotional in a good way, he can be grumpy if he isn’t playing or hasn’t performed well and that’s good because it’s not done in a disrespectful way because he’s a top lad. I like that desire to do well and we are hoping to get him signed up and sealed for the future because he’s someone that is a pleasure to coach and there is so much potential there.”
However, any thoughts of Moore penning a permanent deal with Gateshead could be shelved as Elliot’s own future at the International Stadium remains shrouded in major doubt. The Heed boss is believed to be on the brink of stepping down from his role after struggling to agree a plan to move the National League club forwards on and off the pitch following a series of meetings in recent weeks.
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