According to reports, Michael O’Neill is waiting on Paul Heckingbottom’s response to Sunderland’s offer.
According to a report from The Sun, Michael O’Neill would jump at the terms that Sunderland are currently planning to offer Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom, and the Northern Ireland coach is waiting to see if he becomes the Black Cats’ first choice.
Sunderland are still looking for their new manager having parted company with Simon Grayson last month just minutes after their draw with Bolton at the Stadium of Light.
The Sun reports that the club had turned to their Championship rivals to try and fill the void, making a move for Heckingbottom – but their initial deadline for a decision has now passed and the Tykes boss is still yet to make a decision.
The Sun adds that the £750,000 a year contract that Sunderland are prepared to hand Heckingbottom would definitely appeal to O’Neill following Northern Ireland’s agonising failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup, and he is just waiting to find out whether he has become their first choice.
Interestingly, The Sun adds that Sunderland want an appointment in place by the time they take on Millwall at home this weekend.
Whether that appointment – if it does happen – is in the dugout for the game or watching from the sidelines before he properly takes over remains to be seen, but it appears that the Black Cats are looking to get into the home straight in their search for their next boss as soon as possible.
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