Alex Neil reveals next job hopes amid Sunderland vacancy and Stoke City reflections

Alex Neil reveals next job hopes amid Sunderland vacancy and Stoke City reflections

The former Sunderland boss is now out of work, having left Stoke City earlier this season.

Former Sunderland manager Alex Neil has revealed his ambitions for his next job after being fired by Stoke City earlier this year,

as well as his thoughts on his dismissal by the Potters.

Neil joined Sunderland in January 2022, succeeding Lee Johnson, who was sacked after a 6-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers.

The Scot led Sunderland to the play-offs, a two-legged win over Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals,

and a famous 2-0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.

Neil began the 2022-23 season as Sunderland’s head coach, but left to join Stoke City the day before a game in August,

resulting in Tony Mowbray’s appointment. Neil was then fired as Potters manager early this season after a disappointing run.

“Obviously, I’ve had a few vacations since leaving Stoke and had time to reflect – as you do.

Every club you work at is very distinct; they are not even related.

To be honest, including the structure and manner in which you report to others.

When you walk into any club, individuals strive to construct a picture of the club’s current circumstances,” Neil recently stated.

“But, every club you walk into, when you lift the bonnet and look under it, you think: ‘Oo, right, OK,

it’s a little different than what I expected.'” Then you have to strive to make the most of what you have and win as many games as possible.

But, for myself, I’ll just seek for the next challenge and see what happens this summer or next year.”

Sunderland and numerous other clubs in the EFL and Scotland are looking for the next head coach,

and Neil’s name is frequently mentioned in the betting.

Neil, however, wants to return to the feeling he had with his previous team Preston North End.

“I want to get… to be honest, I’d like to try and recreate what I had at Preston for those years – having a group I really love,

having players who are hungry, want to make their mark, and want to succeed.

It’s not something that happens very often, but I was fortunate to go into the correct changing room at the right time. “I’d like to try that again.”

Walking into Stoke from Sunderland, Neil added: “Yeah, Stoke was a little different in the sense that

– if I’d walked in during the summer when we needed to churn things around – I think what you get is a bit of a blank canvas.”

And you have time to  try and build the club.

What I had to do was, basically, walk-in 12 months earlier and then see that squad through. We only signed frees or loans, because we didn’t have any money.

We had to sell Harry Souttar in the January, to make sure we fell in line with FFP and didn’t break the rules – which we did.

“It gave us a pot of cash to spend over the summer,

but we also signed six free agents and five loans.

All of the ones we invested in were valuable assets. So, Bae Jun-ho – I believe he won Player of the Year.

Wouter Burger earned the second Player of the Year award. And Ryan Mmaee, who I believe will develop into a very excellent player for them.”

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