Sunderland would make an almighty error if they appointed this manager as Tony Mowbray’s replacement.
Interim Sunderland manager Mike Dodds led the Black Cats to a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion in his debut match in command at the weekend, with a brilliant substitute by the stand-in Sunderland manager entirely transforming the game.
The introduction of Alex Pritchard into the game was the catalyst the Championship contenders needed to upset the Baggies, with the former Huddersfield Town man assisting both Black Cats goals in the narrow triumph.
In the short term, it appears that Dodds will remain as Sunderland manager, particularly for Tuesday night’s game against Leeds United.
However, there is an ongoing suggestion around the Stadium of Light that the Tyne and Wear giants may go for this surprise Tony Mowbray replacement soon.
Rumours suggest that Paul Heckingbottom could be offered a swift return to management at Sunderland, despite his traumatic experience as manager of Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Managers in the frame to replace Mowbray
Left-field candidates like Julien Sable, Kim Hellberg, and Will Still are still being mentioned as potential replacements for Mowbray at Sunderland, although Heckingbottom’s recent departure from the Blades makes him a noticeable outsider for the empty role.
The Yorkshire Post has recently reported on the possibilities of the 46-year-old becoming the next Black Cats boss. Heckingbottom is said to be the favorite for the job after gaining promotion to the Premier League as Sheffield United manager during his up-and-down stint, a notable feat on his CV that Sunderland may well admire.
Despite that notable promotion, Sunderland should avoid the fired manager, with Heckingbottom falling short of what ambitious chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants in a new managerial recruit after controversially dismissing Mowbray.
Paul Heckingbottom’s managerial record
Heckingbottom’s failings as a manager significantly outnumber his recent accomplishments, with a disastrous tenure in charge at Elland Road in 2018 failing to endear himself to the hardened Leeds United people, and a brief stint at Hibernian following that also failing to go as planned.
The former Blades manager would only win four of his 16 games in command of the Whites before being fired, unable to handle the high pressure of managing an EFL giant at the time.
If Heckingbottom were to take charge at Sunderland, it might not fare well given the high expectations of the eager fanbase longing for their club’s return to the Premier League. Moreover, the chairman’s impatience to reach the top-flight wouldn’t align with Heckingbottom’s style, which leans towards an organized, structured approach rather than allowing attacking freedom to his players.
His tenure at Sheffield United revealed that his system heavily relied on key players like Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye, and when they were absent, the team struggled notably, indicating an over-reliance on star performers.
Should he succeed Mowbray, concerns arise about his ability to extract performances from less experienced players if key figures like Jack Clarke and Dan Neil aren’t performing well. This season, Heckingbottom’s managerial weaknesses were glaringly exposed, especially with Sheffield United’s significant struggles in the Premier League, including an embarrassing 8-0 loss to Newcastle United.
With his recent setbacks and struggles highlighted by pundits like Jamie Redknapp, Sunderland’s immediate move to appoint Heckingbottom right after Mowbray’s departure would be ill-advised. A better approach would be for the club to exercise patience and seek a manager whose style and track record better align with the club’s needs, rather than opting for a manager still reeling from recent failures.
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