Sunderland made the difficult decision to part ways with former head coach Michael Beale on Monday afternoon, just nine weeks after he took the reins, and the search for a new man in the dugout will recontinue.
The Black Cats had been on a dismal run of form under the 43-year-old, losing twice in their previous two league outings against Huddersfield Town and Tony Mowbray’s Birmingham City. The Wearside club now sit tenth in the Championship, lower than when Mowbray was relieved of his duties back in December.
Sunderland are searching for another manager after sacking Michael Beale yesterday
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Sunderland have some very tricky fixtures on the near horizon which could make or break the club’s season, with matches against Swansea City, Norwich City, Leicester City and Southampton to come before mid-March.
Following the news of Beale’s departure, the club announced that Mike Dodds would take interim charge for the second time this campaign, just as he did after Mowbray’s exit, overseeing wins against promotion rivals Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.
Dodds is expected to remain in charge at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season, giving the club plenty of time to find a permanent successor in the dugout for Beale. Ex-player Darren Bent has thrown one name into the hat that he believes would be a good fit.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former England international has said he would love to see Steve Cooper take over at Sunderland [quotes via the Sunderland Echo]:
“It’s a big gig. It’s a big, big job that. Steve Cooper potentially, and the fact that he hasn’t got a job yet, I am shocked about.
“I did think that Steve Cooper would maybe get a Premier League job because I think he is that good.”
Cooper has reached the playoffs on three separate occasions with two different clubs, losing twice with Swansea but he eventually guided Nottingham Forest back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years before helping the Tricky Trees to stabilise in the top-flight.
Writer’s View
Cooper would be an unbelievable appointment for Sunderland as he is a manager with a proven track record in England’s second tier and in getting promotion. However, the major stumbling block will be enticing him to join the club in the first place.
The Welshman has been linked with several clubs in the Premier League already since his sacking at Forest, most recently Crystal Palace, so it may be difficult to sway him to drop down a division once more, having built up his reputation at the top.
