Sunderland manager candidate now thought to be the front-runner for Championship job

 

The front-runner for a Championship position is now believed to be a manager who was linked to Sunderland this summer.

Since Sunderland has theoretically been without a manager for more than three months, the Black Cats are truly taking their time in selecting a new boss.

The identity of Michael Beale’s replacement is being anxiously and patiently anticipated by fans. However, there isn’t much for supporters to be enthusiastic about as of yet.

There are names that enter and exit contention, however at the moment it appears that the number of names leaving contention is increasing.

One recent example is Bo Svensson, who has been connected to the Sunderland position and appears to have risen through the ranks after losing out on the Red Bull Salzburg position.

However, Union Berlin of the Bundesliga is said to love the Danish coach, so it’s possible that Sunderland lost out on hiring Svensson.

Another name that was connected to Sunderland this summer is now being considered to manage a different team.

Paul Heckingbottom takes the lead for the Plymouth Argyle.

Paul Heckingbottom, a prospective manager for Sunderland, is the clear favorite to take over as Plymouth Argyle manager, according to a developing report from PlymouthLive.

Heckingbottom was formerly believed to be Sunderland’s top priority for this summer, but it appears that he has gradually lost favor.

The 46-year-old manager, who had previously managed Leeds United and Sheffield United, led the Blades to promotion from the Championship in 2023 but was fired halfway through the previous campaign.

John Percy recently disclosed that Heckingbottom was scheduled for an interview with Plymouth Argyle, who had previously been rejected by Liam Rosenior.

Who is the current front-runner to take over as manager of Sunderland?

It appears that Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is now keeping discussions about his potential choice for the club’s future manager under wraps.

A front-runner would be entirely hypothetical, but Will Still seems likely given the most recent Heckingbottom report and the earlier Svensson and Union Berlin news.

Sunderland has long been interested in the now-available 31-year-old; it is unclear why the team hasn’t completed a deal to acquire the former Reims manager.

Louis-Dreyfus may have changed his mind since, in a recent discussion on Still’s downfall at the club, Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot stated that he was “lost in his communications” and implied that he had the necessary experience for a high-level position.

And Louis-Dreyfus, who is still dealing with the consequences from Beale—which included a communication breakdown that ultimately led to his downfall—may be put off by that alone.

In either case, though, it appears that Heckingbottom—a tried-and-true choice for Championship clubs—might be lost on Sunderland.

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