Jermain Defoe needs to set his sights lower amid Sunderland AFC manager news: View | OneFootball

Sunderland need to make the right managerial appointment this summer following what looks set to be an underwhelming 2023/24 campaign.

Having finished in the play-offs at the end of last term, the Black Cats would have been hoping to push for promotion again this season.

Unfortunately, things haven't quite worked out for the Wearside outfit, with their managerial decisions not exactly aiding them.

Results went against Tony Mowbray during the latter stages of his time at the Stadium of Light, but the decision to sack him was a strange one, especially when considering how unpopular an appointment successor Michael Beale was.

Beale lasted just two months before being turfed out, with Mike Dodds taking charge for the rest of the season.

Dodds has also endured a fairly unsuccessful spell so far - and the Black Cats look set to finish quite far adrift of the play-off zone.

Names in the frame for the Sunderland job

Plenty of candidates have been linked with the Wearside club's vacancy, including former Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom, current Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and Reims' Will Still.

Heckingbottom, according to Alan Nixon, is currently the favourite to secure the job but it remains to be seen whether the free agent will be the man chosen to succeed Dodds.

Dodds is one man who could have been in the frame to secure the job permanently, but his latest interim spell has been very underwhelming and with this in mind, it seems unlikely that he will be the chosen man.

It also seems unlikely that Jermain Defoe, who previously played for the club, will be appointed either.

Defoe is open to taking the top job at the Stadium of Light, but it would be a huge surprise if he won this race.

Jermain Defoe needs to set his sights lower than Sunderland

It's a very difficult one because Frank Lampard was given the Derby County job back in 2018 despite not having a huge amount of experience.

Lampard did well during his first and only season at Pride Park, but to maximise their chances of enjoying long-lasting success, the Black Cats may need a more experienced figure than Defoe at the helm.

The club has some young players who need to be handled by someone who has plenty of experience in man management - and Defoe doesn't have those years of managerial experience under his belt just yet.

It's a massive job, even for those who have spent years managing, with expectations high at the Stadium of Light but plenty needing to be done in the Black Cats' likely quest to seal a Premier League return.

If Defoe is to have a successful managerial career, he probably shouldn't throw himself in at the deep end on Wearside.

Instead, a step down to League One or League Two would be wiser, even if he is adored by Sunderland fans.

If he thrives at a lower level, he could make the step up to the Black Cats at some point.

Tottenham Hotspur, currently working in the latter's academy, but his CV needs to be bolstered before he makes a move back to his former club.