MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: A general view of a corner flag at Old Trafford before the FA Youth Cup match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on February 09, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus urged to hire ‘unreal’ former Premier League manager at Sunderland
Sunderland have been told to appoint an ‘unreal’ former Premier League boss, who is currently available too.
Sunderland sacked Michael Beale last month, following a dismal run of 12 games in charge.
Beale took four wins from those 12 games. But the negative performances and the divide between Beale and the Sunderland fans made his position untenable.
Mike Dodds has been placed in charge until the end of the season.
At first, he was given a good potential chance of landing the permanent job in the summer. But after four defeats under his watch, and six defeats in a row, it looks like the Sunderland owners will hire a new boss in the summer.
Who has been linked with the Sunderland job so far
There’s been several names linked with the Stadium of Light vacancy since Beale’s departure.
Polish coach Marek Papszun is one; he’s famed in Poland for taken Rakow from the third tier to the top tier of Polish football, eventually winning the Polish top flight title and several domestic cups too.
Reims boss Will Still is also linked; he was linked after Sunderland sacked Tony Mowbray and expert Graeme Bailey says that Still is Sunderland’s ideal managerial appointment in the summer.
Elsewhere, former Swansea City and Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper is said to be a name under consideration behind the scenes at Sunderland.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus urged to appoint Paul Heckingbottom
One name who is yet to be linked with Sunderland is Paul Heckingbottom.
The 46-year-old is available after being sacked by Sheffield United earlier this season, despite getting the Blades promoted from the Championship last time round.
Speaking to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer has suggested that the former Leeds United and Barnsley boss could be a good fit for Sunderland, saying:
“I think he did an unreal job at Sheffield United getting them promoted with the team that he had, and they did it at a canter.
“I think he’s one of those managers that I would be looking at who I think can do a good job. He worked with fewer resources, so he doesn’t have to be blessed with great resources and I think the fans would take to him.”
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman need to get next appointment right
Right now, Sunderland are at a turning point.
Providing they get to the summer with their Championship status in tact, which isn’t guaranteed just yet, then owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman really need to nail this next apoointment.
There’s a new air of uncertainty around the current ownership and structure at the club following this season; the poor managerial handling and the seemingly poor player recruitment.
But if the club hires a new boss and then brings in some players who are perhaps more experienced and better-suited to the Championship, not just teenagers from Europe, then Sunderland might get back on track, and the fans might regain their faith in the ‘model’.
And Heckingbottom could certainly be a steady appointment.
He’s got promotion on his CV with Sheffield United and he was able to help a number of under-performing players there flourish; Oli McBurnie being one, whilst helping a number of younger players like Rhys Norrington-Davies make their mark.
Whilst he may not be the conventional manager Sunderland want right now, he could be another steady, Mowbray-type appointment to get Sunderland back on track and back up the table.
Long-term though, there may be concerns, as he’s not yet proved himself in the Premier League.
