Sunderland are being increasingly linked with Reims boss Will Still as they search for Tony Mowbray’s successor.
Sunderland are without a manager after sacking Mowbray last week.
Several names have been quite closely linked with the vacancy at the Stadium of Light, but the 31-year-old Still now seems to be emerging as the front-runner.
It was reported in national media yesterday that Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has held positive talks with Still about the possibility of him becoming the next head coach.
But Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has urged the club to rethink the potential appointment.
Louis-Dreyfus urged to rethink Still and consider Mike Dodds
Mike Dodds is the interim boss at Sunderland right now.
It’s the 37-year-old’s second stint in temporary charge of the club and he’s so far taken maximum points from his two games in charge.
And they’ve been hugely impressive wins and performances; Sunderland beat West Brom last weekend and Leeds United last night.
And after last night’s 1-0 win over Leeds, Phillips was quoted as saying:
“My thoughts on it are, why rush? I don’t know much about Will Still, he is a decent manager but he knows nothing about the Championship. It is an unforgiving league, it is a tough, tough league. Mike knows it, keep in charge, at least until January. Give him the backing to say, ‘you are in charge until January, take your time with the process and see what you can do.’ Who knows, they might still be in the play-offs come January and he might stay in the job until the end of the season.”
Is Dodds a realistic Sunderland candidate?
Sunderland certainly seem eager to make a long-term appointment.
The club has a clear vision for the future and this next appointment is one of the most important tasks since the new owners came into place.
So the idea of Sunderland giving Dodds a bit more time seems far-fetched.
The board are obviously looking elsewhere and they seem to have some preferred candidates for the job, and said candidates might be discouraged if the club now decide to give Dodds some more time.
But Dodds has certainly given Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman something to think about.
He’s turned things around in good time and Sunderland are now right back on track. Whether an appointment is made before the weekend remains to be seen, if not unlikely and so Dodds could have another game to stake his claim for the job.
A trip to Bristol City is another difficult task but if the Black Cats can claim another win and further solidify their place in the top six, then Dodds may well come further into the thinking for the head coach job.
Bristol City vs Sunderland kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.