Sunderland have appointed Alex Neil as their new manager, but did actually speak to Jody Morris during their search for a boss.
Neil was confirmed as Sunderland’s new boss on Friday evening, signing a rolling 12-month contract with the Black Cats.
The search for Lee Johnson’s successor is over, and whilst Neil may not come with the adoration from fans like Roy Keane, he’s a proven Championship boss – quite the coup for a League One side.
Sunderland did have other irons in the fire, and the Daily Mail claim that one person they spoke to was Jody Morris.
It’s stated that Morris had applied for the job and was spoken to by Sunderland as they weighed up the likes of Neil Lennon and Enzo Maresca too.
Morris, 43, is currently without a club having been sacked by Chelsea alongside Frank Lampard in January 2021.
The former Chelsea midfielder started his coaching career with the Blues in their youth ranks before following Lampard to Derby County in 2018.
Securing himself as Lampard’s right-hand man, Morris made his own emotional return to Chelsea after just a year at Derby.
Intriguingly, Lampard hasn’t taken Morris to Everton. Instead, the new Toffees boss has brought in Paul Clement to help him at Goodison Park.
That means Morris remains in search of a new coaching role, and Sunderland were interested in giving him his first senior managerial position.
Morris may have potential as a manager, but you have to feel that Sunderland have taken the right decision in going for Neil.
Neil has managed in the Premier League with Norwich City and consistently had his Preston side punching above their weight in the Championship.
Remarkably, Neil is still only 40 and can still get even better as a manager, making much more sense than taking a punt on an untested Morris.
Morris will likely find a managerial post somewhere in the future, he just needs a team willing to take a chance on him.
It wasn’t Sunderland this time, but don’t be surprised to see him attract more interest from elsewhere very soon.
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