Next Sunderland manager: Delay explained, potential candidates and the key criteria – your questions answered

Next Sunderland manager: Delay explained, potential candidates and the key criteria – your questions answered

The Black Cats’ search for a new head coach continues, with the three-month mark approaching next week.

So, what is going on, and what do we know about the process at this point? Here, we answer some of the most important questions…

Why didn’t Sunderland schedule an immediate appointment?

There were several factors. One was to allow the hierarchy time to reflect on

what was plainly a faulty appointment and determine what needed to change to reduce the danger of making a similar mistake the next time.

The other was that one of the major issues the club encountered in recruiting following Tony Mowbray‘s firing was that many of the ideal candidates

were either unwilling to leave in the middle of a campaign or extremely difficult to extricate from their current roles even if they were willing.

Waiting till summer expanded the pool and provided additional opportunities for the club.

As such, it would be surprising if a candidate who was out of job when Michael Beale left was employed this summer.

It’s also fair to say that the club’s administration did not expect such a significant drop-off in the latter months of the season under Mike Dodds.

Injuries and suspension were definitely key factors,

but in retrospect, it appears that Mowbray’s labour was undervalued.

What exactly are Sunderland searching for in a new head coach?

The parameters have remained mostly unchanged since Mowbray’s departure in December.

Though it inevitably became a widely reviled word as Sunderland’s season collapsed,

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ plea for a ‘high-performance culture’ is still instructive.

In brief, the club seeks a candidate with elite coaching experience.

They will also be needed to have a proven track record of nurturing young players,

since while some Championship experience is expected to be added to the squad this summer, the emphasis on youth will remain constant.

They will also be required to have a track record of executing an aggressive,

high-pressing playing style, which is especially important considering the team’s declining playing identity under Beale and in the last months of the season.

Dodds has stated that the team seeks to strike a balance between playing free-flowing football and maintaining a strong structure out of possession,

which is difficult to achieve.

It is still believed that Sunderland will prioritise these criteria over ‘tried and tested’ Championship possibilities, but only time will tell.

It will be interesting to observe how much Beale’s rocky stint has influenced Sunderland’s perspective,

emphasising the significance of excellent leadership and communication abilities at such a large club.

Where is the process at, and how long will it take before a new appointment is scheduled?

Sunderland has conducted an intensive recruitment procedure, which is now nearing completion.

An appointment is not expected anytime soon, as the futures of some of those involved are still being sorted.

Sunderland do not believe they have missed anything in terms of preparations for the upcoming season by being patient in their pursuit of their ideal candidates.

However, there is acknowledgment that this may alter over time,

and a new candidate will be required to make the necessary adjustments for pre-season and begin contributing into the recruitment process,

among other things. It would  be a major surprise if the process ran into next month but these things are hard to predict.

What do we know about the people in the frame?

Sunderland has managed to keep most of their process under wraps, and there are probably names in the frame that have not yet been made public.

Danny Rohl is believed to be highly regarded by the club’s hierarchy,

but he has held constructive talks about his future with Sheffield Wednesday and would want a large compensation sum,

making him unlikely to become the next head coach at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland is also thought to be interested in Danish coach Bo Svensson, who most recently led Mainz in the Bundesliga,

while Heckingbottom was an early contender.

Will Still and Rene Maric, bookmakers’ frontrunners,

have both been extremely strong contenders in the past but are not expected to be major contenders this time around.

As two names on Sunderland’s long-term radar,

they cannot be ruled out at this time,

but it appears that the club’s focus has been elsewhere.

What does this mean for Mike Dodds and his current coaching staff?

Despite a difficult final few months of the season,

Sunderland’s administration does not want to lose Dodds and has made it plain that keeping the current coaching team in place is critical to maintaining some stability and consistency.

As a result, if any of Dodds, Michael Proctor, or Alessandro Barcherini left when a new head coach was hired,

it would be a substantial change from the original plan.

The head coach will be able to expand the backroom team with a member of their own staff,

like Alex Neil and Tony Mowbray did with Martin Canning and Mark Venus.

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