The Michael Beale era at Sunderland is over. After just eight weeks, 12 games and six defeats – in which time the Black Cats slipped out of the play-off places to 10th in the Championship table – the club have parted company with the former Rangers and QPR manager.
Beale had been something of a divisive appointment on Wearside, but signed a two-and-a-half year deal in December after replacing Tony Mowbray. Things quickly went from bad to worse under his stewardship at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland were beaten 3-0 by rivals Newcastle in the FA Cup during his short tenure, as well as suffering Championship to Coventry, Hull and Huddersfield.
Ironically it was a 2-1 defeat to Mowbray’s Birmingham on Saturday that spelled the end for Beale, who angered supporters during that game when snubbing an offer of a handshake from Trai Hume at St Andrew’s after the defender was substituted. Beale later claimed he “didn’t see” Hume.
Either way, the 43-year-old hasn’t been able to save his job, and Sunderland’s hierarchy, led by 27-year-old French billionaire owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, are now on the hunt for a new manager once more.
Beale’s assistant manager, Mike Dodds, has taken over as interim boss until the end of the season while the Black Cats look for a permanent replacement.
i looks through the candidates and the odds of them landing the job:
Will Still
After Mowbray’s departure, Sunderland’s intention was for an overseas managerial hire willing to work with younger players. Therefore, exciting young English coach Still seemed to fit the bill as he works wonders with a limited budget at French club Ligue 1.
Yet Still distanced himself from the rumours, rubbishing the notion that he’d offered himself out to Championship clubs. “I have too much respect for the people I work with for that,” he said. “It’s a shame the story was blown up so much.”
It’s still no surprise to see the Reims boss – who is just 31 but is burnishing a growing reputation in the game – among the leading contenders for the Sunderland job once again. Louis-Dreyfus is clearly an admirer of Still’s and may try and tempt him to Wearside once more.
Odds: 2-1
Paul Heckingbottom
While perhaps not the most glamorous name on this list, Heckingbottom would arrive with a promotion from the Championship on his CV, achieved last season with Sheffield United. And while the former Barnsley and Leeds boss flattered to deceive in the Premier League with the Blades, he was hardly blessed with a squad capable of competing, as Chris Wilder’s subsequent struggles have shown.
Heckingbottom would be more akin to a Mowbray-style appointment, should Sunderland prefer to revert to a method that was reasonably successful for them last season, when they reached the play-offs. He would represent a sturdy pair of hands.
Odds: 7-2
Scott Parker
Parker’s most recent job was in Europe and has won promotion with two Championship clubs as a manager, so perhaps represents the best of both worlds when it comes to fitting Sunderland’s priorities.
The former England midfielder endured something of a disaster in charge of Club Brugge, however, ignominiously losing a Champions League knockout tie 7–1 on aggregate to Benfica and sacked soon after, so his reputation has been tarnished a little following promising spells at Fulham and Bournemouth.
Whether the job would appeal to Parker remains to be seen. He could potentially get Sunderland playing the kind of attractive football their fans want to see, while bringing that vital promotion experience. With some bookmakers, he is the current favourite to land the job.
Odds: 7-4
Kim Hellberg
The Swede was a name alien to most English football fans before he cropped up on Sunderland’s radar at the end of last year after Mowbray’s departure. Just 36, he’s been coaching since the age of 23 and has worked his way up the Swedish football system, before applying for the Black Cats job in December.
Hellberg is most certainly an exotic name from abroad that could appeal to the Sunderland owners, but he’s recently taken a new job – at Swedish top tier outfit Hammarby. After signing a three-year contract there just before Christmas, it’s perhaps unlikely that he would pick up sticks and move to England at this juncture.
Odds: 4-1
Others
Other less likely names who are included in bookmakers’ odds are former Sunderland manager Roy Keane – who has hinted at a return to management one day – as well as Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney who are both available but have endured high-profile failures in recent times.
Sam Allardyce is another former Black Cats boss linked with an outside shot at the job, but would only be a short-term option. Steve Cooper is listed among many bookies’ odds but it’s unlikely that the former Nottingham Forest manager would want to drop down to the Championship for his next job, having been coveted by Crystal Palace at one stage this season. The same goes for Graham Potter, jobless since his departure from Chelsea last year.
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