Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher has distanced himself from the Sunderland job while explaining that he is in ‘no rush’ to leave the Championship newcomers.
One of the Football League’s most highly-rated head coaches was quick to play down reports suggesting he could have taken over at West Bromwich Albion following the sacking of Steve Bruce a year ago.
And, with Steven Schumacher’s name doing the rounds again following Tony Mowbray’s departure from Sunderland this week, the Liverpool-born 39-year-old is again reluctant to pour fuel on the fire, snubbing the petrol for water.
Steven Schumacher responds to Sunderland links
“It (rumours) has happened before. I tend not to get involved in it, if I’m dead honest. I speak to my agent and say ‘Don’t bother me until you need to’ and he doesn’t,” Schumacher tells Plymouth Live.
“It doesn’t affect me one little bit so, no, I’m not aware of anything.
“It’s part and parcel of it. You sort of get used to it. And, as I have said before, it’s a good thing because it shows you are doing something right.”
The ‘unbelievable’ Schumacher assisted now-Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe at Home Park before taking over in the big chair in December 2021. He brought an end to Plymouth’s 13-year absence from the Championship last season, beating another Sunderland-linked coach – Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town – to the League One title in the process.
And while the Sunderland job may hold plenty of appeal to ambitious up-and-coming coaches, Schumacher does not sound like a man packing his bags and preparing for the long drive up north.
Black Cats need a new boss
“If the fans don’t want you to go that shows you are doing something right. In general, I think everybody understands there is going to be a time in the future where a club comes along and I feel as though it might be the right opportunity, if we are still doing really well,” Schumacher adds.
“I might get sacked here! so it’s just one of them. I think most football fans would understand that.
“When the right opportunity comes, I will know. But, at this moment in time, I’m in the perfect place. I’m learning all the time, I’m making mistakes, I’m getting better at making decisions and tactically getting better.
“I feel as though this league is testing us all the time, which is what we wanted. It’s what we expected. All of us as a staff are learning so it’s brilliant. I’m still only young. I have been a manager for two years, there is no rush for me to move anywhere. I’m in a brilliant place.”
Sunderland are reportedly considering Reims boss Will Still while Nice assistant Julien Sable and former Scotland captain Scott Brown have also been mentioned.
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