Nice coach Julien Sable continues to be linked with the Sunderland job but sources close to the Championship outfit are playing down suggestions that he could take Tony Mowbray’s place at the Stadium of Light.
The success of Vincent Kompany, Daniel Farke, Erol Bulut, Jon Dahl Tomasson and, latterly, new QPR boss Marti Cifuentes offers proof that a vast track record in England’s lower leagues is not, after all, a pre-requisite for success in the Championship.
A Sunderland side of years gone by may have jumped at the opportunity to hire a Neil Warnock or a Mick McCarthy, both of whom are reportedly keen on the job (Northern Echo).
But the Black Cats do things differently these days. Perhaps inspired by the likes of Burnley, Norwich and Blackburn – reaping rewards after taking a gamble on a coach who had never before worked in the second-tier – Sunderland are casting their net far beyond the Isle of Wight in pursuit of Tony Mowbray’s successor.
Sunderland chasing a new manager
According to The Guardian, Will Still – the 31-year-old head coach of Ligue 1 high-flyers Stade de Reims – is a favourite of Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. Kim Hellberg, who guided IFK Varnamo to fifth in Sweden last term, is under consideration too (Aftonbladet).
Sunderland also looked at fellow 30-somethings Matthias Jaissle and Francesco Farioli over the summer.
With Jaissle now under contract at Al-Ain and Farioli challenging PSG’s throne over in France, the Sunderland ship has sailed for both. Perhaps inevitably, Farioli’s assistant coach at Nice has been installed as the favourite in some quarters but, per the Sunderland Echo, sources close to the club are ‘playing down’ suggestions that Julien Sable is set to cross the Channel in time for Christmas.
Julien Sable links played down
Sunderland, i News say, are prioritising a coach with a track record for developing youth, with Sable starting off his coaching career in charge of St Etienne’s youth teams. Alongside Farioli at Nice, meanwhile, the Marseille-born 43-year-old is helping hone the talents of some of France’s best young talents, including Jean-Clair Todibo, Khephren Thuram and and Sofiane Diop.
At present, however, reports linking Sable with the vacant Black Cats post appear to have been slightly overblown, with Still and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna seemingly higher on the club’s wishlist.
Scott Brown, the former Celtic captain sacked by Fleetwood Town in September, is keen to throw his hat into the ring too.
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