Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has responded to his emerging links to Sunderland.
Rohl, 34, has only overseen 30 games in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, which is the first club he’s managed on his own.
But already there’s interest coming from elsewhere.
Reports earlier this week revealed that Sheffield Wednesday’s Championship rivals Sunderland are interested in Rohl ahead of the summer.
Sunderland, who sit in 12th and only nine points above the drop zone, currently have an interim boss in place and look set to hire a new manager in the summer.
Rohl meanwhile finds his Sheffield Wednesday side in 23rd place of the table, though just one point separates the Owls from safety after a run of five wins in eight.
Sunderland interested in Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl
It’s said that Rohl is one of a handful of names currently on Sunderland’s managerial shortlist.
Sunderland want a young coach who plays attractive football and Rohl is just that.
He’s currently joined by Reims boss Will Still among the Sunderland front-runners, with Still being even younger Rohl at 31 years old.
Danny Rohl responds to Sunderland links
Speaking to the press ahead of Friday’s Championship clash vs Swansea City, Rohl was quizzed on emerging links to Sunderland.
Rohl told The Star:
“Honestly, I said this some weeks before, that my focus is 100 per cent on the next eight games. What happens with the next game is the difficult one and all the rumours around me are not important. They are rumours, everybody can speak and write something. My focus is here at Sheffield Wednesday, my focus is on my team and my focus is to achieve our goals with this club.”
Then when asked if he’ll be staying at Hillsborough beyond this season, with Rohl’s contract reportedly running until the end of next season, Rohl added:
“What can you say? I can say that at the moment I am very happy here at Sheffield Wednesday. I enjoy the club and the supporters. I know how strong the relationship is and this is a key point for me as well. I have a good group here around me and I know what I want to do here. I know what we have to do in the summer to make a step forward. There are other things.
“The focus must be really clear when we look at our goals for the season. This is important for all those next steps.”
Danny Rohl message to Dejphon Chansiri is clear
Rohl’s comments, the latter ones especially, seem to indicate that he’s willing to stay at Sheffield Wednesday beyond this season.
He clearly has a vision in mind for the club but if Sheffield Wednesday are relegated then he surely leaves, especially knowing that Sunderland who have much better facilities and resources are interested.
Alternatively, if Rohl keeps Wednesday up, then the focus will turn to owner Dejphon Chansiri.
He’ll need to back Rohl, not only in the transfer market but in terms of the facilities, with Rohl recently hinting at Chansiri that certain facilities at the stadium and training ground need improvements.
Whilst all focus is on the final eight games and on getting out of the bottom three, there’ll be growing thoughts at Wednesday towards the summer and who might be in charge ahead of next season.
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