Sunderland parted ways with Tony Mowbray last night, and now the search is on to find their next boss.
The pressure was quickly mounting on Mowbray following a poor string of results in the Championship.
Sunderland are winless in three and drew 1-1 away at strugglers Millwall last weekend, in what was another turgid performance for the Black Cats.
But many think Mowbray’s sacking, although it was perhaps coming, was still a tad premature.
Only last season did Mowbray earn widespread praise for guiding Sunderland to a top six finish. But after what’s proving to be a poor summer transfer window, Mowbray has been left short, and is now out of a job.
Mowbray won 26 of his 60 games in charge of Sunderland.
Sunderland sack Mowbray
It’s been common knowledge for quite some time that the Sunderland board didn’t view Mowbray as the long-term answer to their vision for the club.
The club want a young, more innovative manager to match their likewise set of players, and whilst Mowbray’s sacking may be premature, it was certainly coming.
And sacking Mowbray now gives the next manager time to come in and transform the season, with a play-off finish still very much on the cards.
The Black Cats currently sit in 9th place of the table and are just three points behind Hull City in 6th.
Sunderland to use analytics to find next manager
Sunderland have become a very contemporary club in the past couple of years.
Since the arrival of owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Sunderland have tried to thrust themselves into the here and now, with their recruitment reflective of that.
Sunderland’s transfer net is cast wide across the globe, using analytics to find the next best talents, and that’s something that Sunderland will do to find their next manager too.
Journalist Michael Graham revealed on X last night that the Black Cats will make their next managerial choice based ‘very heavily on analytics’ and ‘with a net cast very wide’.
He tweeted:
So for Sunderland, who they bring in next remains to be seen.
It seems like there’s a strong chance that they’ll hire a manager from overseas, and that their next managerial will be a more youthful one.
The club wants a manger who reflects their playing squad and their ambitions, and with Sunderland having a clear idea for the future, this next appointment really feels like a key one in determining their medium and longer-term future.
It’ll be an exciting one for fans to watch unfold, especially with a play-off finish still a real possibility for Sunderland this season.
Up next in the Championship is West Brom at the Stadium of Light this weekend.