Manager may have already ruled out Sunderland move as he laughs off rumours

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Sunderland are likely to run into a number of obstacles should the Championship outfit choose Stade de Reims manager Will Still as their top target to replace Tony Mowbray at the Stadium of Light.

Now, obstacle number one.

Reims, eternal high-flyers under Will Still, are fifth in Ligue 1. Just three points adrift of the Champions League places. Reims have not graced the European stage since the 1960s and, be honest, would you really walk away from such a challenge?

Onto obstacle number two.

Sunderland, talkSPORT say, may struggle to front up the sort of fee required to prize Still away from Reims, a sizeable release clause in his contract.

If the Black Cats manage to clamber other those hurdles, however, there is still a brick wall that must be scaled before the chequered flag looms into view. Obstacle three; Will Still went public only a few days ago with his desire to remain at Reims for the time being, dismissing reports suggesting he could take over at crisis-hit Lyon.

Sunderland sack Tony Mowbray

“I smiled about it (those Lyon reports). I laughed about it the other day. What’s weird is that my name is mentioned every time a coach is fired!,” Still quipped, via FootMercato.

“Does it inflate the ego? It’s not bad! But I don’t worry. I stayed at Stade de Reims for a reason and (being at) Stade de Reims is very, very good for the moment. We’ll see what happens next, but (leaving now) is not on the agenda.”

Still, a 31-year-old Belgian born to English parents, has established himself as one of the most highly-rated up-and-coming coaches in Europe since taking over Reims initially on an interim basis 14 months ago. Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, according to The Guardian, is personally a big fan, Still’s impressive ability to get the best out of previously unproven youngsters such as Folarin Balogun likely to appeal to one of the EFL’s most fresh-faced squads.

Will Still and Kieran McKenna are targets

But while Still feels like an ambitious target to take Mowbray’s place on the Wearside bench, the club’s other managerial target may be equally unattainable.

Kieran McKenna, after all, has Ipswich Town sitting in second, very well-placed to secure a second sucessive promotion and end the club’s long Premier League exile.