Sunderland have been urged to avoid hiring one manager in particular this summer.
Sunderland have just one game of their season remaining, yet who they’re going to bring in to replace Michael Beale remains unclear.
By now, fans may have been hoping to have one clear front-runner for the job at the Stadium of Light.
But Sunderland have been linked with a number of managers; none of which seem to be more favoured by the owners than others.
Names simply keep popping up, like Will Still at Reims and Danny Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday.
Another name who is being linked, albeit by himself more than anything, is former striker Jermain Defoe.
The now 41-year-old has on more than one occasion now, publicly stated his interest in becoming the next Sunderland manager.
But another former Black Cats forward in Marco Gabbiadini has urged the club to look past this potential appointment.
Marco Gabbiadini questions Jermain Defoe to Sunderland
Speaking on BBC’s Total Sport this week, Gabbiadini questioned whether or not Defoe would able to handle a job the stature of Sunderland, at least at this point in his coaching career, saying:
“You do get situations where a player of his stature can get a job, and the respect that the other players would have for him would be instant, and it breaks down a lot of barriers to begin with.
“But whether he has the experience to handle a dressing room full of players, that’s the next step.”
Gabbiadini concluded:
“It just doesn’t seem to fit what the club have been saying.”
What are the chances of Sunderland hiring Jermain Defoe as their next manager
On the surface, Defoe to Sunderland looks very unlikely.
He’s currently a youth coach with Spurs and that’s his only experience, and barring his previous connections to Sunderland as a player, there’s really nothing to suggest that he’d be a good fit.
And journalist James Copley has already played down the chances of Sunderland hiring Defoe this summer.
Defoe though clearly seems keen on becoming a manager one day soon and he seems keen on eventually returning to Wearside.
He simply needs to do his badges and then get a break somewhere, maybe in the lower leagues or even abroad, and then come back and apply for the Sunderland job when he’s got some experience on his CV.
Sunderland need an experienced and favourable appointment this summer, which Defoe just isn’t right now.
The Black Cats finish their season with a tricky home game against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, with kick off at 12:30pm on Saturday.