Will Still, a Sunderland manager target, has responded to a comment made by a referee during Reims’ defeat to Lens this weekend.
Following Tony Mowbray’s departure from Sunderland, several names have been connected to the vacant position.
Will Still of Reims has been widely linked following a successful season in Ligue 1 over the past year. According to reports, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus had ‘good meetings’ with the English coach last week.
Having said that, it appears that Michael Beale will be the new Black Cats manager, with Still remaining in France.
This news hasn’t stopped comments being made to the Englishman in his most recent game.
What has Will Still said?
Reims traveled to Lens this weekend for their first match since the managerial rumors began.
Still’s side suffered their fourth defeat in five Ligue 1 games, thanks to goals from Wesley Said and Oscar Cortes. Aside from the outcome, there was another issue that irritated the management.
According to L’Equipe, the referee on the day, François Letexier, made some remarks that were not well received.
“Don’t worry,” Letexier allegedly replied, “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 press has been awash with Sunderland links in the last week, with a move seeming potentially likely. This lasted until Beale took the lead in the race.
Still’s statements would lead you to conclude that a transfer to the Stadium of Light is unlikely. Why else would he appear so irritated by the referee’s comments?
The manager was irritated by the loss and the perhaps unprofessional comments made by the official.
Whatever the reason, he wasn’t happy, and it doesn’t appear like a move from France to the North East is in the works.
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