“It’s a bit strange” - Paul Heckingbottom concern raised as Sunderland eye move | OneFootball

Sunderland are already counting down the days until the season finishes, after an underwhelming campaign that has seen the promotion hopefuls languish in mid-table.

Sunderland continue search for new head coach

The Black Cats hierarchy have come under huge scrutiny this season, as the decision to sack popular boss Tony Mowbray to bring in Michael Beale looked a bold move, and it ultimately backfired spectacularly as the side will not be able to replicate their top six finish from 12 months ago.

The ex-Rangers chief lasted just two months at the Stadium of Light, with Mike Dodds in place for the remainder of the campaign, but the struggles have continued.

So, there’s a lot of pressure on the club to ensure they can kick-on next season, and all eyes will be on who they appoint as the new boss.

Paul Heckingbottom emerges as option for Sunderland

There has been plenty of speculation about who the next Sunderland boss will be, and recent reports have suggested that Paul Heckingbottom is a frontrunner for the role.

The 46-year-old is without a club after leaving Sheffield United earlier this season, after doing a fine job at Bramall Lane which included taking them back to the Premier League.

Heckingbottom did so in impressive circumstances, as he was working on a budget, and that lack of support was ultimately costly in the top-flight, with the Blades unable to compete with the elite.

Nevertheless, speaking to FLW, Sunderland fan pundit Jack Austwicke explained that why Heckingbottom is clearly a good manager, he may not be the right fit for what the Wearside outfit need.

“I wouldn’t mind it on the face of it, he’s won promotion from this level before, the football wasn’t bad, and he’s worked quite well with young players in the past.

“But it doesn’t feel as though the alignment is really there. We got after these young, foreign players, but then we go for the most generic English manager. It’s a bit strange, but you could say the same about Tony Mowbray and look how well he did. So, it could be similar to that, but I worry.

“Sheffield United’s struggles in the Premier League was not down to him though, there’s nothing he could do about that. He’s clearly a good manager, but I feel we could set our sights higher. Maybe I’m being a bit greedy but I feel like we could.”

Sunderland’s summer plans

As mentioned, attention is already turning to next season, as Sunderland have little to play for over the final weeks of the season.

But, it’s not just about who the next head coach will be, as there is going to be a turnover in players, and the reality is that star man Jack Clarke is expected to depart. Plus, there are doubts about the future of keeper Anthony Patterson, and centre-back Dan Ballard is on the radar of Premier League clubs.

Of course, selling those players will bring funds in, so the recruitment team will need to line up a lot of quality to replace any of those individuals if they do go.

The summer signings from last season have struggled to make an impact, so, again, there’s a spotlight on the club to make sure they get it right.

All in all, the next few months are going to be huge for Sunderland, and it will be intriguing to see who is in the dugout, and what the team looks like when they line up for the new campaign in August.