Rumoured Sunderland managerial target Steven Schumacher has dismissed speculation linking him to the vacant role at the Black Cats, according to quotes supplied by Plymouth Live.
The Championship side produced a shock earlier this week when they dismissed Tony Mowbray following a run of one win in five games. This has seen them slip to ninth in the table and outside of the play-off places as they chase a return to the Premier League after what will be a seven-year absence at the end of the season.
The 1-1 draw with Millwall at the weekend proved to be the final straw and the decision was made ahead of a tough double-header against fellow promotion chasers West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United, starting this Saturday. The trip to The Den followed back-to-back defeats against Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle, with the latter currently managed by the highly rated Schumacher.
The 39-year-old was immediately installed as one of the favourites to replace the outgoing Mowbray after his heroics with the Pilgrims over the last two years. They secured the League One title last season after amassing an impressive 101 points and look to have cemented their place in the second tier, where they currently sit in a comfortable 16th.
The job he has done at Home Park has caught the eye of a number of clubs in recent times and he has previously been linked to several roles within the Championship. Sunderland are the latest, but the former Bradford City and Bury midfielder has refused to be drawn into the speculation. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to table-toppers Leicester City, Schumacher said:
“It has happened before. I tend not to get involved in it, if I’m dead honest. I speak to my agent and say ‘Don’t bother me until you need to’ and he doesn’t. It doesn’t affect me one little bit so, no, I’m not aware of anything.”
Continuing, the gaffer admitted he was flattered by the concern shown by fans as to whether he would be tempted in a move to the Stadium of Light:
“If the fans don’t want you to go that shows you are doing something right. In general, I think everybody understands there is going to be a time in the future where a club comes along and I feel as though it might be the right opportunity, if we are still doing really well.
“I might get sacked here if you aren’t doing really well, so it’s just one of them. I think most football fans would understand that.
“When the right opportunity comes I will know and we will get that sense, but at this moment in time I’m in the perfect place. I’m learning all the time, I’m making mistakes, I’m getting better at making decisions and tactically getting better.
“I feel as though this league is testing us all the time, which is what we wanted. It’s what we expected. All of us as a staff are learning so it’s brilliant. I’m still only young. I have been a manager for two years, there is no rush for me to move anywhere. I’m in a brilliant place.”
Writer’s View
Whilst Schumacher is understandably linked to the position at Sunderland, he is not thought to be someone that the Black Cats are actively targeting. This is a real boost for Plymouth as they will not want to disrupt their season by searching for a new manager.
The 39-year-old is clearly happy where he is and knows time is on his side when it comes to getting a ‘bigger’ job. For now, his focus will be fully on retaining the Pilgrims’ Championship status.
Head of Writing
