Sunderland interim boss Mike Dodds has discussed the club’s ongoing managerial search.
Dodds has been placed in charge until the summer after Sunderland sacked Michael Beale last month.
Dodds is the third man to take charge of the Black Cats this season following Beale and Tony Mowbray, with Dodds seemingly having a chance of landing the permanent job himself.
It was previously reported that Dodds could come under consideration at Sunderland, but four wins and a draw from his five games in charge so far suggests that he won’t be appointed on a permanent basis.
Sunderland remain in 12th place of the Championship table after a run of seven games without a win, with 13 points separating them and the top six and only nine between the Black Cats and the bottom three.
What has Mike Dodds said about Sunderland manager search
Dodds has now opened up on the club’s ongoing managerial search.
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, the 37-year-old explained his conversations with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus:
“The last conversation I had, and this was prior to the last couple of games, was that they had shortlisted a number of potential candidates and that they were going to take their time in speaking to those people. They want to make sure they get the next appointment right and they don’t want to rush that decision.
“If they feel like they’ve got the right candidate tomorrow, then they will be in the day after tomorrow obviously. If they don’t, then they will wait. That was the message I was given a few weeks back and I’ve not been told that anything has changed. If anything changes then they will communicate that with me. We’ve got some big games coming up because we need to change the feeling of the football club, and we know that the best way to do that is to win games of football.”
Who is on Sunderland manager shortlist
Reims boss Will Still was the preferred choice among many Sunderland fans after the club sacked Beale.
He was linked but a move didn’t materialise, and since, it’s been said that Sunderland view Still as their ideal summer appointment to replace Dodds.
Other names have been mentioned too; Polish coach Marek Papszun is reportedly keen on taking the Sunderland job, whilst it’s said that Steve Cooper and the Sunderland hierarchy have a mutual appreciation of each other.
Elsewhere, the Black Cats have been urged to consider Paul Heckingbottom following his Sheffield United sacking earlier this season.
Sunderland have to get next appointment right
Like Dodds reveals in his above comments, the Sunderland hierarchy absolutely must get this next appointment right.
Fans’ faith in the hierarchy and in the ‘model’ is at a turning point now after this season’s downfall.
But the board have done themself a favour by putting Dodds in charge and giving themselves ample time to scour the market and look for their next manager.
And Dodds’ comments about the club already having a shortlist is promising, though who is on that shortlist remains to be seen.
Expect Still’s name to keep on coming up in headlines, though expect more names to be plucked out of Europe and linked with the vacancy on Wearside too.
For now though, Dodds will be focused on ensuring Sunderland are definitely a Championship side for next season.