Chris Coleman’s future in charge of the Welsh national team is due to be decided soon amid speculation that Sunderland will come calling.
It appeared that Sunderland had whittled down their managerial candidates to two potential frontrunners – Paul Heckingbottom of Barnsley (above) and the Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.
According to the latest odds provided by Sky Bet, however, Chris Coleman has gone from an outside bet to a red-hot favourite to take over at the Stadium of Light. By Thursday afternoon, the odds on the former Fulham boss taking over had dropped to as low as 1/8 – making him the clear frontrunner for one of England’s most daunting jobs.
Coleman’s future in charge of the Welsh national team has been uncertain for some time and speculation that he could depart the post after five years intensified after he failed to guide the Euro 2016 semi-finalists to the World Cup in Russia next year.
The 47-year-old insisted that he had not yet made a decision about his future after Wales’ 1-1 draw with Panama this week, Coleman’s 50th game at the helm.
The Chronicle reports that a decision on Coleman’s job is set to be made on Thursday. If the former Wales international does find himself out of work, however, it may not be long before another opportunity comes along with Sunderland crying out for a manager to lead them off the bottom of the Championship table.
The Scottish Sun report that Michael O’Neill has distanced himself from the role after being warned by close friends that taking over a debt-ridden club is an ‘impossible job’.
But could another of the home nation’s gaffers be the next name on Sunderland’s hitlist?
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