The departure of Roy Keane from Sunderland has led to an avalanche of applications from would be suitors anxious to take over from the former Manchester United player. The position does seem to have generated more interest than usual from the out of work Premier league managers and also those in current employment.
Reports from around the media suggest that there have been no less than thirty three serious applicants for the role and the Sunderland board is expected to whittle that down to a shortlist of three by the end of Wednesday.
Sam Allardyce was among the first to respond to the Premiership news and quick to express an interest in the position and must be considered favourably against the opposition, his experience from the days at Bolton should put him in good stead, but as time goes on, Big Sams chances get slimmer.
Other media favourites are current Hull City manager Phil Brown who has already shown that he can build a team with style and substance on a limited budget. His premier league exploits this season must put him on the shortlist.
Co Adriaanse the Dutch coach currently with Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg is in the frame along with other foreign hopefuls such as former England football coach Sven Goran Eriksson, currently under pressure in his role with Mexico’s national team and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier.
Should Sunderland choose the Newcastle route and appoint an interim manager at the club until the end of the season, then the current Thailand national coach and former Sunderland favourite Peter Reid would be more than happy to fill that position. Reid enjoyed a managerial roller coaster ride during his eight years in charge of Sunderland but has suggested that he would be interested in a role with the club.
However, having just signed a four year contract with Thailand it is unclear exactly how Reid would fit in a role at Sunderland.
One coach that will not be in the running is former Tottenham boss Juande Ramos who has taking over the reins at Real Madrid until the end of the season, following the departure of Bernd Schuster.
3 comments so far
1 dave stopher // Dec 9, 2008 at 5:29 pm
PETER REID!!!!
2 Terry Lane // Dec 10, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Listening to Radio 5 Live yesterday, apparently Peter Reid & Steve macLaren have both ruled themselves out.
That must be great news if you’re a Sunderland supporter!
As for Sam Allardyce, I wonder if his style of hoofing the ball around will please Sunderland supporters, or are they only interested in Premiership survival?
3 live football // Dec 10, 2008 at 11:27 pm
i still hope it will be peter.