Sunderland are expected to revive their interest in a previous managerial target this summer.
Last month, Sunderland spent two weeks looking for a suitable replacement for Tony Mowbray. They were associated with several promising foreign managers.
When news broke that the Black Cats were poised to acquire former QPR and Rangers coach Michael Beale, supporters expressed frustration, and the board faced substantial criticism. Michael Beale has yet to dispel the doubts, having suffered four losses in seven games since taking charge, leaving Sunderland in the tenth spot on the Championship table.
Calls for Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to dismiss Beale and bring back Mike Dodds until the season’s end have been widespread. However, the identity of a potential permanent successor remains uncertain. In December, Sunderland seemed keen on Will Still, the current manager of sixth-place Reims in Ligue 1, boasting a 46% win rate. The 31-year-old gained widespread recognition in Europe for leading Reims to a 14-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, despite lacking a UEFA Pro Licence at the time.
Recent reports indicate Sunderland’s strong interest in Still, but financial constraints apparently hindered their ability to afford his compensation.
However, journalist Michael Graham believes the Black Cats will make another attempt to sign the Belgian this summer.
On X, he wrote: “I’ve said it before, but if Beale leaves, I believe it’ll be Dodds till the end of the season. Then I suppose Will Still will return in the summer.”
He then added, “The clause that determines Will Still’s hefty compensation cost expires at the end of this season. It will be substantially cheaper to hire in the summer.”
Can Sunderland still land Will Still?
Will Still is definitely the manager that everyone hoped to see at the Stadium of Light when the links first started, whilst Michael Beale was utterly unimpressive in comparison.
If he is going to be substantially cheaper in the summer, we would be crazy not to go back in for him.
The only issue is that it already feels like we’re a less appealing club than we were before Beale arrived.
We could finish the season in the middle of the table or even in the bottom half, and we will most likely part ways with a number of crucial players at the conclusion.
It wouldn’t be shocking if Still had lots of other choices to consider by then, especially because he could potentially lead Reims to Champions League success.
We made a tremendous mistake by not giving up the dough to bring him in last month, and we can now pay the price by having someone else swoop him up in six months while we look for a second option.
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