French outfit RC Lens have made a major managerial announcement amid a tug-of-war with Sunderland over Will Still.
Sunderland have wanted former Reims manager Will Still for a number of months now, first being linked with the 31-year-old after the Black Cats sacked Tony Mowbray in December 2023.
Then when Still left Reims at the start of May, it looked like a move to Sunderland was inevitable, with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus previously unwilling to pay out what was more than £4million in compensation for the Belgian-English coach.
A move would stall, but Sunderland had reportedly agreed terms with Still for him to become the cub’s next head coach, only for Still to apparently pull out at the last minute.
RC Lens then came calling; they’re said to fancy Still as their next head coach, though Still now appears to be torn between the job at Lens, and the job at the Stadium of Light.
Lens though announced on Thursday that Franck Haise has left his position as head coach.
RC Lens announce Franck Haise departure amid Will Still rumours
RC Lens announced on Thursday morning that Haise has left the club after 168 matches, with rival Ligue 1 club OGC Nice announcing almost immediately after that they’ve now hired Haise as head coach.
And Lens could make an equally quick appointment with Still widely tipped for the Lens job; previous reports suggested that Still and Lens were in final discussions.
Whether or not Sunderland have a lifeline in their pursuit of Still remains to be seen. But it does seem certain that Still is someone who Louis-Dreyfus has been very keen on for some time.
Earlier this month, it was claimed that Louis-Dreyfus would make one final push to bring Still to the Stadium of Light this summer, though whether this latest update from Lens puts an end to Sunderland’s hopes of Still remains to be seen.
Sunderland should turn their attentions to one man
The whole Still saga has not only painted a picture of uncertainty at Sunderland, but it’s also cast doubt over Still’s temperament.
There may have been doubts prior given Still’s rather public fallout at Reims; his openness in the media about wanting to manage in England, and his apparent trips to the UK to meet with club officials.
But Still agreeing to become the next Sunderland manager, only to then pull out when he had another offer, tells us a lot about his loyalty.
So Sunderland may have dodged a bullet, if they don’t end up hiring Still. And for Louis-Dreyfus, new manager candidate Pascal Jansen may become even more of a front-runner.
The former AZ boss appears to be a much more favourable candidate among Sunderland fans but Greek giants Panathinaikos are also keen on the 51-year-old.
Sunderland may continue this trend of missing out on manager targets, unless they pull the trigger on either Still of Jansen as soon as possible.