Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot confirms Will Still move to Sunderland as he’s desire is to manage in England

President of Reims Jean-Pierre Caillot says he did not believe Will Still could continue as the club’s head coach.

Still departed the French club by mutual accord earlier this month,

three games before the end of the Ligue 1.

The 31-year-old was a possibility to take over at Sunderland in December,

but the Black Cats would have had to pay a significant compensation sum,

while Norwich have also been connected with him following David Wagner‘s dismissal.

After taking over Reims at the end of 2022,

Still oversaw a 19-match unbeaten streak and guided the club to an 11th-place finish in Ligue 1.

Reims then made a good start to the 2023/24 season, but slid to 11th before Still’s departure,

winning only one of their last eight league games under the coach.

Caillot reflected on the season in an interview with France Bleu,

saying, “Will Still, it’s a very beautiful story, a very beautiful meeting.”

He matched our desired profile. However, taking on young people carries some risk.

“Here at Stade de Reims, we give young people an opportunity at all levels, whether as players or as staff,

and when we have young individuals, we must recognise that they will make mistakes.

“I believe the ‘Will Still effect’ meant that he communicated frequently and made several requests.

A more seasoned coach would have defended himself more,

and he moved from being a lovely guy with fresh air,

to someone who was a little lost in his communication and this was felt in his management of the team.”

When asked if the decision to break ways with Still was based on results,

Caillot mentioned the head coach’s last game in charge, which the club lost 4-1 at home against Clermont Foot.

“For six months, we could see that it was not the Will Still that we had chosen for over a year now,

that things had changed,” Caillot responded. “It was difficult to fathom how the story would continue.

“I am not at the beginning of his departure; rather, I am at its end. He told me after the Clermont game,

‘I have no more words, I don’t know how to do it anymore.’

“He asked me for an interview with his agency and father. Following this interview,

which was conducted in complete silence, we came to the decision that we needed to know how to end the story,

and everyone was quite fair in their contributions.”

Despite having a year left on his Reims contract, Still decided to quit the club.

“Economically, it was a whitewash for everyone which allowed them to part ways with good friends,

which will allow them to focus on another project, which I sincerely hope for them,” Clermont said.

Still has previously stated that he wants to manage in England and is willing to take a position at a Championship club.

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