Sunderland look set to appoint another permanent manager in the summer, after a campaign with three men in charge.
Sunderland sacked Michael Beale last month and place Mike Dodds in charge until the summer.
Dodds became the third manager of Sunderland this season after Tony Mowbray led the Black Cats into this current campaign.
But Dodds has so far struggled to get Sunderland going; he’s lost all four of his games in charge so far and Sunderland have lost their last six in the Championship.
It’s said that Will Still is Sunderland’s ideal managerial appointment this summer.
Though with Reims flying high in Ligue 1 and potentially qualifying for European football next season, Still could be a tough appointment for the Black Cats to pull off.
With that in mind, here are three alternatives Sunderland could find in the Football League…
Danny Rohl could be made for Sunderland
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is turning heads in the Championship.
His side remain in 23rd place of the table but have won five of their last seven, with just nine points separating them and Sunderland now.
And Rohl has overseen this upturn in form by playing some really exciting and daring football, going toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the league and making some real gems out of his younger players.
Rohl is the youngest boss in the Football League at 34 and his recent record in the Championship and of working with younger players could really entice Sunderland.
Steven Schumacher
Steven Schumacher was linked with Sunderland after Mowbray’s departure.
He remains at Plymouth Argyle but would later replace former Black Cats boss Alex Neil at Stoke City, where he’s not enjoyed a great time of it so far.
There’s rumours that Stoke and Schumacher could part ways should this season not end with Championship survival, though with Stoke being something of a poisoned chalice in management, Schumacher’s reputation would remain well-regarded.
He would no doubt have guided Plymouth to Championship safety this season which would’ve been a huge success, doing so playing a very possession and passing-based style of play, and an attacking one too.
With 54 goals so far this season, Plymouth are the highest scoring team in the bottom half of the Championship table.
Neill Collins
Barnsley boss Neill Collins is enjoying his first job in England this season.
The one-time Sunderland centre-back also represented the likes of Wolves and Sheffield United during his playing career, before making his name in management with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the US.
There, Collins won the USL Regular Season Division twice and the USL Eastern Conference twice as well, before taking on the Oakwell job last summer.
His Barnsley side currently sit in 4th place of the League One table and are five points outside the automatic promotion places, with the Tykes having scored a staggering 71 goals in 37 games so far, with 48 conceded.
Collins certainly favours attacking football and more often than not dons a lone striker formation, which this current Sunderland side is very familiar with.
It’d be a big step up, but a gamble that could pay huge dividends with Collins looking like he has a very bright future in management.