Sunderland could be snubbed by another manager, with the Black Cats already set to miss out on Will Still.
Sunderland now look set to miss out on long-term manager target Will Still, who’s widely tipped to take charge of French club RC Lens.
It comes after the 31-year-old had apparently agreed to become the next Sunderland manager before pulling out due to concerns about the staff and the lack of resources.
Still is yet to take charge of Lens. But it looks like the Black Cats are quickly turning their attentions elsewhere in anticipation of Still heading to Lens.
Bayern Munich U19s boss Rene Maric has seen his links reignited in the last week; Bayern want him to stay and become an assistant to new boss Vincent Kompany, but Maric is yet to put pen-to-paper on a new deal.
Elsewhere, there’s a new name in the frame in St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson.
Sunderland linked with St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson
Reports claim that Sunderland have added Robinson, 49, to their managerial shortlist after the Still saga unfolded.
But pundit Carlton Palmer believes that Robinson may also snub the opportunity to become the next Sunderland manager with St Mirren set to play in Europe next season.
Palmer told Football League World: “This has all come about, as we’ve spoke about before, as the hierarchy want to run Sunderland Football Club.
“So they’re going to have to take somebody who’s really desperate to get down there, work under the circumstances they want to deploy, and hope to get some success.
“It would also be a great opportunity for Stephen Robinson, but he’s in Europe next season with the Buddies, and I’m sure he would want to stay and experience that opportunity.”
Would Stephen Robinson snub Sunderland manager job
Like Palmer suggests; Robinson may never get the chance to manage in Europe ever again, and turning that down would be difficult, not matter the job.
Whilst Sunderland remains a big opportunity for managers, it’s also one that requires a certain type of manager, like Palmer says.
It needs more of a coach than a manager. It needs something of a ‘yes man’ who can come in, largely have the shots called for him, and be solely responsible for training and picking the matchday squads.
There’ll be names out there who’d prefer that. But there’s apparently a lot who don’t and Robinson, who has a good thing going at St Mirren and Europa Conference League football to look forward to next season, may be another who knocks back Sunderland.
It’s certainly becoming a desperate managerial search for Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman, who remain two names under growing pressure.
If Robinson also rejects the job then it’ll really cast a light on how bad the situation is at the Stadium of Light, with Robinson having instantly become a very divisive candidate among Sunderland fans on social media.