Former Southend United boss Sol Campbell has been interviewed for the Sunderland job as the Black Cats step up their pursuit of Phil Parkinson’s replacement, as reported by the Sunderland Echo.
With one of English football’s sleeping giants desperate to wake from their slumber and break out of the high security prison that is League One, they are casting their net far and wide in pursuit of a new boss.
Grizzled promotion-specialists such as Paul Cook and Nigel Pearson have been mentioned, while exciting, youthful tacticians a la Danny Cowley, Lee Johnson and Daniel Stendel also appear to be in the frame.
Campbell, however, is the sort of appointment that would surely divide one of the biggest fanbases in the lower leagues right down the middle.
The former England and Arsenal star pulled off a minor miracle when he saved a seemingly-doomed Macclesfield Town side from relegation out of the Football League in his first ever managerial post.
It is fair to say things did not go so well at Southend United.
Campbell won just four of his 23 matches as the Shrimpers bombed out of the third-tier earlier this year, while his desire to play progressive, passing football in a side bereft of all confidence felt rather naïve from day one.
Campbell had little choice but to operate with one hand tied behind his back due to the severe financial problems at Macclesfield and Southend, however.
Sunderland would give the 46-year-old the chance to prove himself with a talented squad and with money to spend.
Interestingly, Campbell came very close to joining Sunderland during the twilight years of his playing career in 2010.
Then-manager Steve Bruce confirmed to the Chronicle that talks had taken place between the Black Cats and the 35-year-old free agent. A decade on, could Campbell finally be heading to Wearside?
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