Sunderland now look ‘increasingly unlikely’ to appoint one of their first-choice manager targets.
Sunderland fans have become frustrated in their search for a new manager, having sacked Michael Beale over three months ago.
The Black Cats haven’t seemed much closer to appointing a new head coach since the season ended at the start of the month, but Will Still has been the name that has look the most likely.
The 31-year-old left Reims at the end of the season and it was obvious that Sunderland remained eager to snap him up.
However, the club endured a disastrous day yesterday, as Still opened talks with Norwich City over their manager vacancy.
As well as that, Paul Heckingbottom was linked with Plymouth and Birmingham, Bo Svensson was reported to be joining Union Berlin and Danny Rohl was said to be ‘close’ to signing a new contract at Sheffield Wednesday.
Sunderland’s options appeared to be dwindling, but there was still hope that a deal for Still was already close and there was nothing to worry about.
Will Still now ‘increasingly likely’ to join Sunderland
That now doesn’t seem to be the case though, with the Wearside outfit ‘increasingly unlikely’ to appoint the former Reims boss.
Writing on X, journalist Michael Graham said: “As I understand it, #SAFC increasingly unlikely to appoint Will Still. Looking at other options on their list instead.”
It is unclear whether that is related to Still’s discussions with Norwich, but it leaves Sunderland in an incredibly difficult position.
It raises the question as to who Sunderland’s ‘other options’ are, as it would appear that most of their other main targets could be on their way elsewhere.
The Sunderland board are completely unreliable
The Black Cats have been dragging their feet and have now wasted multiple opportunities to appoint the right man.
The club have had months to determine who they want to bring to the club and have now had weeks to finalise a deal, but it comes as no surprise to supporters that they have instead waited until other clubs are in need of a manager and can now swoop in for every target they have been looking at.
Not getting Will Still wouldn’t have been such a disaster if there was still options that would be just as good, but that seems unlikely.
It’s another disaster from the club, who really needed to take this chance to make it up to the fans after a number of vital mistakes over the last year.
Fans will be eager to see Sunderland still bring in a worthy appointment, but Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus have to be heavily criticised no matter what happens now.