Sunderland AFC manager latest: Will Still revelation, pundit slams strategy, Pascal Jansen | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at the latest news as Sunderland continue their search for a manager

It's been a long four months without a manager for Sunderland, and the Black Cats hierarchy are still searching for a new man to take the reins at the Stadium of Light.

Understandably, Sunderland supporters are getting restless given how long they've been without a manager for, and with the return of pre-season training in the near future, they'll surely want a manager in charge by the time the players return from their summer break.

Michael Beale was sacked on the 19th February, so it's exactly four months since Sunderland last had a permanent manager in situ, and over 120 days, putting it into stark reality.

With that in mind, we've rounded up the latest news as Sunderland look to appoint a new manager.

Sunderland miss out on yet another manager linked with them

Pascal Jansen has recently been appointed as manager of Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros, putting an end to speculation that he could be appointed by Sunderland.

The Dutchman was one of many managers that has been linked with them in the last four months, but the former AZ Alkmaar boss has instead joined the Hungarian champions, and will get the chance to compete in European football next season.

Jansen was reportedly one of "serious interest" to Sunderland earlier this month, but just a couple of days later it was revealed that he was no longer in the running.

The move to Hungary may have come as a slight surprise after being linked with Sunderland, but the Black Cats fans will be keeping a close eye on how his side gets on to determine how big a blow missing out on him was.

Will Still reveals why he turned down the Sunderland job

Will Still had been linked with the Sunderland job ever since Tony Mowbray left the club in December, and the club came close to appointing the 31-year-old, only for him to join French side Lens instead.

According to The Northern Echo, Still had reservations about Sunderland's ambition, and the make-up of the club's backroom staff that he'd have to work with.

Also, Lens are a top-flight French outfit who will be playing European football next season, so that, coupled with the fact that they offered more money, meant that Still opted with the French side, turning down the chance to become Sunderland's new boss.

It was reported by Michael Graham on X last week, that reservations over working with the club's Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman has played a part in the club's search for a new manager taking so long. Perhaps had it not been for those reservations, Still would be the Sunderland boss right now, and this will only add to the fans' frustrations.

Pundit blasts Sunderland's strategy

In a Football League World exclusive, Carlton Palmer has criticised Sunderland for the time it's taking to appoint a manager, and for how managers are expected to operate, not being able to sign the players they want, and not being able to work with their own staff.

Frank Lampard recently saw his odds of becoming Sunderland boss slashed, but it's reported by The Northern Echo that the Chelsea legend was never in the thinking of the club's hierarchy. Palmer believes that Lampard wouldn't have been a good fit for the club anyway, given the way they're currently run.

Palmer said: "Like I’ve said before, I’m repeating myself week in and week out.

“It must be very worrying for supporters that still, to this day, that they haven’t been able to secure the services of a head coach.

“Frank Lampard will obviously be desperate to get back into the game, but he won’t want to get in under the terms that Sunderland want the head coach to work under; not being able to bring your own staff, not being able to sign the players you want to sign.

“It’s alright having a mantra that you want to sign and develop young players, but also for a manager, you want to be successful - it’s getting that balance.

“Tony Mowbray I believe got that balance and got close to getting them promoted to the Premier League, and they fired Tony Mowbray.

"Frank is desperate to get in work, but I can’t imagine Frank working under those circumstances.

“It’s a fantastic football club, Sunderland, it’s well-supported, it’s got good young players, and I’m telling you now they’re in danger of losing their players.

“They’ve got players under contract for two or three years, but they’re in danger of losing their players in the summer, because they certainly won’t be renewing their contracts until they know who the head coach is going to be and if they’re going to be able to work with that said head coach.”

Palmer is no doubt not alone with these concerns, and plenty of Sunderland fans will feel the same way as him. It's now been four months without a manager, and supporters have every right to be concerned at how their club is being run.