The Sunderland head coach position is currently vacant after Michael Beale was relieved of his duties on Monday, but one former candidate has added some fuel to the fire after a recent interview.
The Black Cats have been struggling for form in recent weeks, failing to string two consecutive wins together since Mike Dodds took interim charge back in December, overseeing victories against West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United within the space of three days.
Having replaced current Birmingham City boss Tony Mowbray in the dugout at the Stadium of Light just before Christmas, Beale was in charge for merely 12 matches in which he guided the Wearside club to only four victories.
After growing pressure from the stands, Sunderland announced Beale’s mutual departure on Monday afternoon, revealing that Dodds would be put back in charge until the end of the campaign as the club searches for his permanent successor.
One name who was linked heavily with the job after Mowbray was relieved of his duties over two months ago was Reims head coach Will Still. The Guardian even reported at the time that club owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus was a massive admirer of the 31-year-old and held talks with him.
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic published today, Still himself revealed that there was interest from Sunderland and has even left the door open for a possible move to the Championship.
“There has been interest, I’m not going to lie about it. I’d rather be open and honest, and I think I was. We’ve had interest. People have wanted to talk to us. This is the reality of the situation.
“I would work for a Championship team without a problem,” he continued.
“If there’s a Championship club that’s ambitious, that wants to work in the right way and be open and honest about things, and really try and push to get somewhere, then I would love to do that.”
Furthermore, Still also admitted that managing in the Premier League is a dream for him but he is not against dropping to the tier below.
“Obviously, the Premier League is the ultimate dream for any manager in the world. I’m not in a rush, either. It’s not that, if I come to England, I have to go to the Premier League, or I have to go to this or that club. If something fits then it fits, and I’d be just as happy doing that.”
Writer’s View
Still would be an incredible appointment for Sunderland. The young coach is fluent in both French and English which would be massively beneficial given the composition of the squad right now.
Furthermore, it seems likely that Louis-Dreyfus will make another attempt at bringing him to the Stadium of Light following his previous efforts after Mowbray parted. He has proven he can work wonders with a young squad and is tactically astute which is what the Black Cats need right now.
