Sunderland may have been handed a major boost regarding linked-coach Will Still.
Sunderland sacked Michael Beale earlier this year, setting them up for a summer managerial appointment.
Mike Dodds is overseeing matches until then and after a run of one win in nine under his watch, it looks highly unlikely that Dodds stands a chance of landing the job on a permanent basis.
Names continue to be linked with the Sunderland job.
Reims boss Still though seems to be a favoured appointment among fans, and behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light too.
Sunderland manager latest
Little has been said about the Sunderland job in the last couple of weeks.
The main emerging story is that Paul Heckingbottom is being eyed up by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus; the former Sheffield United boss is out of work after being sacked by the Blades earlier this season.
He guided the team to promotion from the Championship last season and Heckingbottom is said to be potentially interested in the Sunderland job, should he be approached.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is also being linked ahead of the summer.
Will Still at Reims latest amid Sunderland interest
It was revealed previously that Still was Sunderland’s ‘ideal’ summer appointment.
And Louis-Dreyfus and co will surely be interested at this latest development coming out of France.
An emerging report rom le10sport says that Reims are preparing to hire a new coach in the summer, with the club standing a ‘good chance’ of losing current boss Still.
It also comes after recent comments from Still which suggested that he’s had his head turned, not only by outside interest but by Championship interest, namely Sunderland.
Still is quoted as saying:
“I have been abroad all my life and I have worked all my life in an environment that was not all actually mine. And I just want to go home. Obviously, the Premier League is the ultimate dream of every manager in the world. I’m not in a hurry either. It’s not that if I come to England I have to go to the Premier League, or I have to go to this or that club. If something suits me, then it suits me, and I would be just as happy to do it.”
Will Still’s Reims compensation fee
Anyone wanting to hire the 31-year-old this summer would need to dig into their pockets.
Le10sport’s article goes on to confirm that Reims have a €5million release clause in Still’s contract.
The same report adds that Still already has ‘serious contacts’ in England, with West Ham another team reportedly keeping tabs on the Belgian-English coach.
Sunderland must take note of interesting Will Still comments
There seemed to be some uncertainty from Still when previous links to Sunderland emerged.
But now as we approach the end of the season here and in France, it looks like Still’s head might be turning somewhat.
His comments about managing in England, but not necessarily the Premier League, points towards Sunderland, and this latest update on Reims’ managerial search suggests that they’re braced for interested.
The sticking point is the compensation fee.
Sunderland surely have the money to pay what would be a £4.28million compensation fee, and with player sales likely happening this summer, Louis-Dreyfus could well pay out someone’s clause.
But Sunderland run a tight ship.
Previous comments from Kristjaan Speakman suggested that Sunderland may or may not hire a manager currently in-work, so the club might well see if their preferred choice is currently available or not.
Heckingbottom then could be the front-runner, though given this recent Sill update, he could quickly come back into the picture.