There’s a new contender to replace Michael Beale at Sunderland this summer.
Sunderland are being linked with a growing number of managers ahead of the summer.
It comes after the club sacked Tony Mowbray before New Year, hired and then fired Michael Beale after 12 games in charge, and placed Mike Dodds in charge until the summer.
Dodds has now overseen the same amount of games as Beale, though he has just two wins compared to his predecessor’s four.
And Dodds’ future as part of the caching staff may now be under threat too, especially if the next Sunderland manager brings in their own coaching staff in the summer.
What’s the latest on the Sunderland manager search
There’s little happening on the Sunderland manager front right now.
The Sunderland owners seem to be waiting for this season to end; so they can put a forgettable campaign to bed and then see who’s truly available and interested in the job at the Stadium of Light.
Will Still remains a front-runner, though he’s currently in some hot water at Reims following a third-straight defeat in Ligue 1.
Sunderland chances of hiring Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl seem all but over with the Owls all but safe from relegation to League One.
Jermain Defoe meanwhile has been stating his interest in the Sunderland job once again, though he’s not thought to be under consideration.
Ryan Lowe now a favourite for the Sunderland job
Emerging reports have now revealed that Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe is now among the favourites for the Sunderland job.
The 45-year-old was a prolific Football League striker in his day, best known for his spells with Bury and Tranmere Rovers among others.
He’s since made his name in management with Bury, Plymouth Argyle, and now Preston.
Ryan Lowe record at Preston North End and his 2023/24 season
Lowe left Plymouth Argyle in December 2021, when they were in League One, to take charge of Preston North End.
He’s since overseen 123 games and has won 47 (38.21%), losing 45, and achieving 13th and 12th place finishes in the Championship.
The Lilywhites were dark horses in the race for top six this season, though four-straight defeats now has Preston sitting in 10th place of the table ahead of their final day clash at West Brom.
Ryan Lowe to Sunderland analysis
Lowe isn’t the glamorous name or the young coach that Still or Rohl might be.
But he’s got something that neither of those two (Still especially) have; Championship experience, and pedigree at this level.
Lowe has been in the Football League either as a player or a manager since the start of the Century.
He’s vastly experienced and he’s rapidly made a name for himself as a manager, with his Plymouth side and now his Preston side being well regarded as organised, and very technical.
His current Preston team; they’re very technically-gifted and quick in the middle sector, with Lowe and his team having gone toe-to-toe with many in the top six race this season, albeit falling short.
Lowe has a distinct habit of making relatively average players into very good Championship players and that should appeal the Sunderland hierarchy.
Though he’s not got that elite coaching background that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus may fancy.
Lowe however is on a 12-month rolling contract and so he could be free to take charge in the summer, making him something of a dark horse for the Sunderland job.