‘If they can get him…’: Sunderland considers ex-Nottingham Forest manager as Mick Beale replacement

Sunderland are on the hunt for a new manager after parting company with Michael Beale.

Beale was a controversial choice among Black Cats supporters, and during his brief two-month tenure, he was unable to convince those who had doubts about him. Beale took over at the Stadium of Light only in December, taking over from Tony Mowbray.

The 43-year-old’s last game as manager was Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Birmingham City. He leaves with just four wins, two draws, and six losses from his 12 games in command.

After Mowbray was fired in December, Mike Dodds took over as interim manager and won two of his three games. He will remain in command until the conclusion of the season so that the team has time to decide on the future manager.

Sunderland currently sit 10th in the Championship table, four points from the play-off places, and they are back in action when they host Swansea City on Saturday.

Steve Cooper, the former manager of Nottingham Forest, is one name that might be considered for the permanent position.

Since Forest fired him in December, he has not had a job. With the team currently hovering above the Premier League relegation zone, Cooper is expected to be in high demand in the upcoming months.

Should Sunderland target Steve Cooper as Michael Beale replacement?

We asked some of our FLW writers for their thoughts on whether Cooper would be a good appointment for Sunderland.

James Reeves

Cooper would be an outstanding appointment for Sunderland.

Though he took over with the team in the relegation zone, he has an outstanding Championship record, having led Swansea City to the play-offs two seasons in a row before leading Forest to promotion in the 2021–22 season.

Cooper managed to keep Forest in the Premier League the previous season until being fired in December, with his team in a vulnerable position. However, Cooper faced difficult circumstances at the City Ground, since some players were signed without his consent.

The Welshman was highly respected at Forest, as seen by the fact that supporters cheered him on until his departure, and he would probably connect similarly with the fervent Sunderland fanbase.

In their pursuit of Cooper, the Black Cats are not aiming to make an appointment until the summer, which may help him take a vacation following his time at Forest. However, Cooper may believe he has earned the right to wait for a Premier League opportunity.

Although it would be challenging, if Cooper is willing to take the lead at the Stadium of Light, signing him would be a no-brainer for Sunderland.

Ned Holmes

Cooper would be a phenomenal appointment for Sunderland, if they can get him.

There is no doubt that the Black Cats are a huge club with a fantastic history but you’d imagine the former Nottingham Forest boss will be hoping for a Premier League job.

He could want to hold off on signing a contract until the summer to see if any of the teams that were demoted from the top flight are interested in him.

Cooper may be concerned about Sunderland’s limitations, which presented challenges for Tony Mowbray. The Wearsiders prioritise developing young players, have a set salary structure, and have demonstrated a hesitancy to pursue acquiring a dependable striker, which is what they most desperately need.

The Welsh coach appears to be the perfect fit given his background coaching youth teams, his success in the England setup, leading Forest in their promotion push, and his play-off seasons at Swansea City. However, he might not think the Stadium of Light is the right place for him.

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