Regis Le Bris faces upward Sunderland fan battle from the off if appointed: View | OneFootball

Sunderland are reportedly set to appoint Lorient boss Regis Le Bris as their new manager.

Sunderland are reportedly closing in on the appointment of a new manager after a lengthy search.

The Black Cats have been without a manager since the departure of Michael Beale in February, and the hunt for his permanent replacement has been going on for over 120 days.

Mike Dodds took over as interim head coach until the end of the season after Beale's exit, but he won just two of his 13 games in charge, and Sunderland finished 16th in the table, just six points above the relegation zone.

A host of managers have been linked with the Black Cats job in recent months, including 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, Bo Svensson, Pascal Jansen, Dave Challinor, Stephen Robinson and Marti Cifuentes.

It has been an incredibly frustrating search for the Wearsiders with a number of their top targets rejecting the job or going elsewhere, and they suffered their biggest blow last month when long-term target Still turned down the role due to concerns over the level of backing he would receive and the makeup of his backroom staff.

However, it seems that Sunderland are close to a resolution as, according to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie, they are in "advanced talks" with Lorient manager Regis Le Bris, and they are hopeful of appointing him over the weekend.

Downie claims that Le Bris was on the Black Cats' initial five-man shortlist when Beale was dismissed, but the process was complicated by their pursuit of Still, and the fact that the Frenchman needed a work permit.

Sunderland supporters will be relieved that their managerial search is finally coming to an end, but Le Bris may have a lot of work to do to win over the fan base once he takes charge at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland supporters may be underwhelmed by Regis Le Bris appointment

Le Bris has been in charge of Lorient since the summer of 2022, and he has experienced mixed fortunes during his time with the French club.

The 48-year-old led his side to a 10th-placed finish in Ligue 1 in his first season in charge, which was an impressive achievement given that he was working with the fifth-youngest squad in the division, and he attracted interest from elsewhere last summer.

Nice were believed to be interested in Le Bris, while he also held talks with Leeds United before they appointed Daniel Farke, and it was claimed that he was keen to leave Lorient, but he was persuaded to stay at the club.

Both parties may be regretting the decision not to part ways as Le Bris' second season in charge of Lorient was much less successful, and after a turbulent campaign, they finished 17th in the table and were relegated to Ligue 2.

It is fair to say that there were mitigating circumstances for Le Bris' struggles this season, with a poor summer transfer window proving to be incredibly damaging, but Lorient's relegation was a huge underachievement, and it will raise serious concerns for Sunderland supporters.

The Black Cats fan base have become increasingly frustrated by the long wait for a new manager, and the fact that the club are set to appoint someone who suffered relegation this season is unlikely to improve the mood.

Le Bris faces an upward battle from the start to try to convince the doubters that he is the right man for the job, and Sunderland supporters showed during Beale's tenure that they are not afraid to make their feelings clear.

However, while it is understandable that some Black Cats fans will be underwhelmed by the imminent appointment of Le Bris, they should give the Frenchman a chance.

When he was able to work in better conditions, Le Bris' first season in charge of Lorient was excellent, and the fact that he was on the radar of Leeds, a club with promotion aspirations in the Championship, is a big endorsement of his ability.

He spent time working in the academies of Rennes and Lorient before making the step up to senior management, and that could make him perfectly suited to Sunderland's model of developing young players.

It has seemed at times over the last few months that the Black Cats board have been running out of ideas, but Le Bris is said to have been on the club's original shortlist, and supporters should be encouraged that they are landing one of their main targets, rather than someone way down the list.

It will not be an easy task for him at Sunderland, and his job could be made even more challenging if key players such as Anthony Patterson, Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke were to depart this summer.

Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman are under huge pressure to get this appointment right, and they will be desperately hoping that Le Bris can succeed, otherwise the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light could turn even more toxic.