Sunderland‘s search for a new head coach to replace Tony Mowbray has taken a massive step forward as the club’s owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus reportedly held positive talks with one of the top candidates.
Last Monday, the hierarchy made the difficult, yet controversial decision to relieve manager Mowbray of his duties after fifteen months in the dugout at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland reached the playoffs last season and were sitting merely three points off the top six when the experienced coach was dismissed.
A number of names have been linked with the prestigious and vacant managerial position at Sunderland, including Reims head coach Will Still who, at 31 years of age, has guided the French outfit to eighth in the Ligue 1 table.
It was initially reported by The Guardian that Louis-Dreyfus was an admirer of Still as a result of keeping a watchful eye over French football. However, The Guardian revealed today that the Sunderland chairman has held ‘positive talks’ with the bilingual British-Belgian coach.
Reports in Belgium recently revealed that Still had a disagreement with the Reims board over the upcoming January transfer window and is open to a move away from the Stade Auguste Delaune in the very near future.
This news could potentially have piqued the interest of Louis-Dreyfus who seems keen to bring the 31-year-old to the club who has boasted a 44.68% win rate since taking over at Reims a little over a year ago.
The Sunderland chairman is seemingly invested in bringing a younger mind to the Stadium of Light, having previously been interested in appointing Francesco Farioli, although the Italian coach eventually moved to Nice.
Writer’s View
Will Still is one of the best young coaches in the world right now and can speak perfect French and English, which could benefit Sunderland’s squad perfectly given there are four French speakers in the team already.
Furthermore, Sunderland would be getting a massive coup by appointing Still and it’s the type of decision that could potentially draw more eyes to the club given how much media coverage the manager has gotten since taking over at Reims.
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