Alan Nixon has explained why Paul Heckingbottom didn’t want to join Sunderland this summer.
Sunderland are closing in on a third of a year without a manager this week.
The Black Cats were expected to bring in a new head coach shortly after the season concluded, but it has now been over six weeks since they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday on the final day.
The club have been linked with a long list of managers, most noticeably being turned down by both Will Still and Liam Rosenior.
They have mainly targeted managers that are already out of work, with Marti Cifuentes being the only current name that has been linked that already has a job.
Despite their search for the unemployed, Paul Heckingbottom is one name that has rarely been mentioned for the role.
Paul Heckingbottom turned down Sunderland
Journalist Alan Nixon has now explained that this is down to the 46-year-old not wanting the job for one big reason.
When a supporter questioned whether Heckingbottom had turned Sunderland down, he wrote on X: “Heckingbottom didn’t like the staffing arrangements…”
This isn’t the first time that reports have claimed that potential managers haven’t been keen on the arrangements on Wearside.
A report previously claimed that many coaches have rejected the move because they don’t want to work with Kristjaan Speakman, while it is believed that some have been eager to bring in their own staff but have been told no.
Kristjaan Speakman is a huge problem
While the club can be criticised for handling their manager hunt so poorly, it has become very apparent that they were always going to struggle in their search if Speakman and Mike Dodds were still there.
There is clearly a big problem with the sporting director behind the scenes, and his work in the public eye is no longer covering up for it.
Similarly, fans have had enough of Dodds after his disastrous spell in charge, and if his presence is an issue for potential new coaches then most would be happy to see him leave.
It all comes down to Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ decision-making though, because it is his loyalty to his current men that is causing major issues.