Sunderland have been linked with out-of-work manager Paul Heckingbottom.
Sunderland sacked Michael Beale in February and are now heading towards another managerial appointment in the summer.
Several names have been and continue to be linked, including Will Still and Steve Cooper, though Heckingbottom is the latest name tipped to head to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland linked with Paul Heckingbottom
Sunderland have been linked with Heckingbottom ahead of the summer.
Heckingbottom, 46, has previously managed Barnsley, Leeds United, Hibernian, and Sheffield United, though he’s best known for his tenure with the latter.
With the Blades, Heckingbottom oversaw 98 games, winning exactly half of them and earning promotion from the Championship during the 2022/23 campaign.
He was sacked earlier this season with Sheffield United bottom of the Premier League table.
Though it came after a poor summer transfer window with United struggling with their financial situation right now.
Fans react to Paul Heckingbottom rumours
And Heckingbottom’s Sunderland links have garnered quite a strong reaction from the Black Cats faithful.
There seems to be a slight divide, but the vast majority of fans appear to be in favour of Heckingbottom arriving at the club.
After Beale, Sunderland need a manager who can better communicate with the fans and Heckingbottom is someone who comes across very well in interviews.
Not only that, but his Sheffield United side earned promotion very much against the odds during what was a competitive year in the second tier, playing some very aggressive and attacking football in the process.
Another theme emerging among Sunderland fans is the comparisons to Tony Mowbray.
Mowbray arrived as a fairly underwhelming appointment, but his experience and level head proved catalytic last season, so maybe Heckingbottom who has the experience and the demeanour could be ideal for this young set of players.
Here’s what some Sunderland fans have said about the Heckingbottom links…