St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson is apparently being considered for the Sunderland post.
Sunderland suffered a poor Championship season, and the Black Cats have had a difficult start to the summer.
Sunderland have been without a manager since the dismissal of Michael Beale in February, and their hunt for a permanent replacement has now lasted more than 100 days.
Mike Dodds took over as caretaker manager until the end of the season following Beale’s departure, but he struggled to improve the Black Cats’ fortunes, and they finished 16th in the standings, just six points above the relegation zone.
Alex Neil, Marek Papszun, Steve Cooper, Will Still, Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Scott Parker, Danny Rohl, Jermain Defoe, Rene Maric, Liam Rosenior, Paul Heckingbottom, and Bo Svensson have all been linked with the Sunderland job in recent months, but no appointment appears to be imminent.
Sunderland manager search latest
The Black Cats were dealt a big setback last week when former Reims manager Still, who was thought to have been a long-term target of the club, turned down the post owing to worries about the level of support he would receive and the makeup of his backroom team, and he is now expected to stay in France with Lens.
Rohl is also out of the running after signing a new long-term contract with Sheffield Wednesday, while Svensson has been named the new head coach of Bundesliga club Union Berlin. According to journalist Alan Nixon, Sunderland have now put up a three-man shortlist.
Former AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen, Stockport County manager Dave Challinor, and St Mirren’s Stephen Robinson are all thought to be in the running for the position.
Robinson is apparently “keen” to take over at the Stadium of Light, and he is “being pushed within the Sunderland ranks,” while his compensation price of only £250,000 makes him a viable option for the Black Cats.
The 49-year-old has done a good job since taking over at St Mirren in February 2022, leading the Buddies to fifth place in the Scottish Premiership this season, but his periods as manager in England with Oldham Athletic and Morecambe were less successful.
Sunderland fan pundit on potential Stephen Robinson appointment
According to FLW’s Sunderland fan pundit Jack Austwicke, Robinson would be an uninspiring appointment for the Black Cats, and if given the opportunity, he would rather see the club go with Challinor.
“I think Stephen Robinson would be the least ambitious, most unexciting appointment we could possibly make,” Jack replied.
“I’m not one to dismiss managers before giving them a chance, but Sunderland AFC can do more than that.
“There’s no two ways about it; I think it’d be ridiculous if we couldn’t.
“Even Dave Challinor, whose name has been mentioned, I’d prefer him.
“I’m from Hartlepool, and I’ve seen a lot of Dave Challinor teams. I think he’s a fantastic manager, but whether he’s ready for the Championship is another matter.
“I’m not going to claim I’ve seen Robinson manage much, but it would feel like a bit of a pathetic appointment really.”
