Sunderland manager target, Will Still has reacted to a comment made by a referee in Reims’ defeat to Lens this weekend.
Following the departure of Tony Mowbray from Sunderland, there have been multiple names linked to the vacant role.
One name who has been heavily linked is Will Still from Reims following a positive stint in Ligue 1 over the past year. It has been reported that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus had ‘positive talks‘ with the English coach in the past week.
With that being said, it appears that Michael Beale is going to be the new Black Cats manager, seeing Still stay in France.
This news hasn’t stopped comments being made to the Englishman in his most recent game.
What has Will Still said?
Reims travelled to face Lens this weekend in The Red and White’s first match since the managerial rumours began.
Thanks to goals from Wesley Said and Oscar Cortes, Still’s side fell to a fourth defeat in their past five Ligue 1 games. Other than the result, there was another aspect which frustrated the manager.
As reported by L’Equipe, François Letexier who was the referee on the day, made some comments which weren’t appreciated. Letexier had allegedly said: “Don’t worry, it [the refereeing] will be better in England.”
Discussing his side of the story, the referee said: “At the end of the match, I simply said, “Maybe best of luck in England.
“It was meant to be light-hearted, with a smile and without any ill intention. He misinterpreted me.”
It is safe to say that this “joke” didn’t land with the Reims boss who voiced his unhappiness after the match.
On that, he said: “Not funny at all. He said something like, ‘It will be better in England.’
“I didn’t find it very appropriate, but it’s not a story, it’s not interesting.”
The links to Sunderland from the press had been rife in the past week with a move looking potentially likely. This was until Beale became the frontrunner in the race.
These comments from Still would make you believe that a move to the Stadium of Light is off the cards. Why else would he appear so frustrated with the comments by the referee?
It can be said that the loss and the potentially unprofessional comments made by the official annoyed the manager.
Whatever the reason, Still wasn’t happy and with that, it doesn’t look like a move from France to the North East is happening.