Five-year-old Billy Ellison begged his dad to get the name of his favourite player, Asamoah Gyan, printed on his new home strip.
Dad, Carl, also a SAFC fan, initially refused amid rumours that the Ghana international was going to be transferred.
But after the club quelled any fears earlier this month about his departure-before the unexpected change in circumstances-Carl agreed to go ahead and get Gyan (below) branded on his son�s shirt.
Billy had already named his pet rabbit after his football hero, who arrived at the Stadium of Light from French side Rennes for �13million only last year.
�He�s his favourite player. He idolises him,� said Carl, 33.
�We get to as many home matches as possible and Billy has been a fan since he was really little.
�I held off and held off when Billy wanted his name on the strip.
Then when the club said he wasn�t leaving, I got it done.
�Three days later, it was announced he was going!�
On September 10, the club confirmed that Gyan would leave on a season long loan to the United Arab Emirates team Al-Ain.
�I know the football club can�t be responsible for what names you get put on your strip,� said Carl.
�But they are responsible for telling us he wasn�t leaving.�
He was less than impressed after he paid �30 for the strip emblazoned with the name of the outgoing Black Cat.
�Billy is not very happy at all about it and I don�t think the shop would give us a refund,� carl added.
�They would know, like us, that it�s worthless now.�
Carl said he has tried to contact the club, hoping for response or consolation.
�I emailed them on September 12 and 14, but I�ve heard nothing back.
�That�s really annoyed me that they have not got in touch.
�It would be nice if they would give something to appease Billy.
�I think from now on people will only be getting their own names on shirts with the way the club is going with the constant transfers,� said Carl.
He added: �I don�t know what we are going to do about the rabbit � either give it a new name or send it on loan to the Emirates.�
A spokeswoman for SAFC said: �If Carl contacts us directly we will reply to him.
�I�m not sure how he has contacted the club previously, but we always reply to any supporter correspondence.�
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