French football pundit Pierre Ménès has been critical of Sunderland manager target Will Still, amid links to Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens.
Sunderland look set to miss out on manager target Will Still after a turbulent past week or so in the club’s hunt for a new boss.
It’s been revealed that Still had agreed to become the next Sunderland manager, quickly pulling out of the agreement due to concerns about the lack of investment.
Still now looks set to take charge of Ligue 1 side RC Lens, though no official confirmation is yet to come out, with the club undergoing something of a makeover in the boardroom.
Still will arrive with only 18-months of management experience under his belt following his inaugural tenure at Reims.
But his spell with the Champagne club ended in disregarded following a reported fall-out with club president Jean-Pierre Caillot.
And now Still has come under the spotlight in French media ahead of potentially taking the RC Lens job.
Pierre Ménès critical of Sunderland manager target Will Still
French football pundit Pierre Ménès has given his verdict on Still, suggesting that the Belgian-English coach is big-headed, per reports.
Speaking on Pierrot La Foot, Ménès said of Still: “I think this guy has a huge cigar. Afterwards, he perhaps has reasons to have it.
“Moving from Reims to Lens is in any case a promotion. It will be up to him to play, to prove that he can contribute something… But hey, getting behind [current manager, Franck] Haise is no cakewalk, all the same.”
Still rose to fame in 2023 following his unconventional route into management, garnering something of a cult following due to his previous love of the video game Football Manager.
Sunderland may have dodged a bullet with Will Still
Given his inexperience of managing, let alone managing in England, hiring Still would always have been a gamble for Sunderland.
Not only that, but Still has shown certain aspects of his temperament in the last few weeks and months that might suggest he still has a bit of maturing to do.
Caillot’s previous comments about Still and Reims being a ‘nightmare’ following links to Sunderland say a lot.
It was claimed that Still met with Sunderland officials in England, with Still’s comments about being open to managing in the Championship one day, whilst still at Reims, highlighting his naivety.
And now Ménès’ comments about Still may back up the idea that he’s still got some maturing to do.
So for Sunderland, missing out on Still might be a blessing in disguise; a lot about his demeanour sounds like Michael Beale and that was a nightmare appointment for the Black Cats.