Gus Poyet is Sunderland’s first choice managerial target although the Northern Echo claims that Paul Cook, Danny Cowley and Nigel Pearson have also been considered within the last 24 hours.
The proverbial ring is not short of hats at the Stadium of Light.
The ink is still drying on Phil Parkinson’s P45 but, with a number of out-of-work tacticians looking for a job, the chance to shake one of English football’s sleeping giants from its slumber has attracted a great deal of attention.
Paul Cook, a League One champion with Wigan Athletic in 2018, praised the Black Cats’ famous fanbase in conversation with Totally Football Show.
Ex-Lincoln and Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley was even more effusive, admitting to the Southend Echo that he would be very interested in taking over from Parkinson on Wearside.
The Northern Echo reports that both Cook and Cowley, not to mention Premier League veteran Pearson, are all under consideration by the Black Cats.
For now, however, there is one clear favourite – a man who knows Sunderland like the back of his hand.
“I said it a few months ago and yes of course (I would love to come back). There are things that I think are still possible to change,” Gus Poyet told Speak Sunderland two weeks ago.
“You want to go back because it’s typical South American passion. The fans and the relationship we had – even if it didn’t finish in the best possible way, I still think it’s possible to do something.”
Poyet spent two years in charge of the Black Cats between 2013 and 2015, saving the club from relegation and leading them to a League Cup final.
Given his close relationship with fellow Uruguayan Juan Sartori, the man at the heart of a proposed Kyril Louis-Dreyfuss takeover, Poyet is well placed to have a second stab at the job.
The phrase ‘unfinished business’ comes to mind.
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