Michael Beale was fired by Sunderland in February, preparing the Black Cats for a summer appointment.
After taking over, Mike Dodds has made Sunderland appear more like the team they once were, despite their lack of scoring.
The Black Cats’ recent 1-0 victory over West Brom has kept them in 13th position in the Championship standings.
Sunderland manager latest
Over the past week or two, there has been a small amount of action on the management front.
The main story concerns Will Still, the leader of Reims.
The 31-year-old Still is still fighting for a spot in the European Football League with Reims for the upcoming season, but last week’s reports from France suggested that Reims is preparing for Still’s possible summer departure.
Reims is even considering possible substitutes, and Still has hinted once more that he may manage in the Championship at some point.
But according to the same source, Reims would be entitled to compensation of almost €5 million, or £4.27 million.
Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl have also been mentioned together.
However, Alan Nixon recently asserted that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and company would probably decline that specific assignment due to the amount of money required for Rohl:
https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1779238549625204808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1779238549625204808%7Ctwgr%5E649fb298b4a73c854124523a0a610d2986aa6374%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sunderlandafc.news%2Fopinion%2Fsunderland-should-forget-will-still-and-hire-unbelievable-46-year-old-right-now%2F
Compensation claims surely means one thing for Sunderland
It’s unclear how much Rohl will be paid in compensation.
However, his Sheffield Wednesday contract only runs through the summer of 2025, and it doesn’t seem plausible that the struggling Championship team would have a larger compensation clause than Still’s.
Therefore, it is even less likely that the Black Cats would be prepared to acquire Still from Reims if Sunderland is unwilling to buyout Rohl.
That suggests that Sunderland should hire a manager who is unemployed, as there is a clear front-runner.
Former Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has emerged as Sunderland’s top target for the upcoming summer. With extensive experience in the Championship and currently without a club, Heckingbottom’s profile aligns well with what Sunderland may be seeking. He is likened to Tony Mowbray due to his Championship knowledge and amiable personality.
At 46 years old, Heckingbottom appears to be a suitable candidate, especially if Sunderland aims to avoid hefty compensation fees for a new manager. Speakman hinted at the club’s willingness to pay compensation but emphasized a preference for available coaches like Heckingbottom, who has received praise from pundit Carlton Palmer.
If Sunderland prioritizes Heckingbottom as their number one choice and isn’t inclined to spend big on compensation, there may be little reason to delay his appointment. Bringing in the new boss before the season concludes could offer a brief opportunity to assess the squad before diving into the summer transfer window.
Sunderland have just
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