Sunderland and Birmingham City strategy in Liam Rosenior chase revealed | OneFootball

Hull owner Acun Ilicali shocked many by sacking Rosenior after the Tigers missed out on the Championship play-offs this term.

The highly-rated young coach helped steer Hull clear of relegation after being appointed midway through 2022/23 and then had them pushing for a top six spot in his first full season at the helm.

Rosenior was well-backed by Ilicali, particularly in the January transfer window, and was named on the shortlist for the EFL Championship Manager of the Season but got his marching orders soon after the campaign wrapped up.

​​​The Tigers owner has since claimed the decision was based on a disagreement about style of play – with the former Derby County coach introducing a possession-based approach that at times was a little toothless and relied on individual brilliance.

Rosenior's MKM Stadium departure has done little to damage his stock, however, and there have already been links with other EFL jobs.

Birmingham City and Sunderland target Liam Rosenior

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Rosenior turned down an approach from Plymouth Argyle but has more EFL suitors.

The report reveals that the Black Cats are one of the clubs interested and could push hard for the 39-year-old should they miss out on their foreign targets.

Birmingham, meanwhile, are thought to be waiting on news about Tony Mowbray, who missed the latter part of the season due to illness, and will look to appoint Rosenior if the experienced coach does not return.

Sunderland searching for Michael Beale replacement

Sunderland are still searching for a permanent replacement for Michael Beale, who was sacked in February.

The decision to stick with interim boss Mike Dodds until the end of the season did not bear fruit as the Black Cats, who were in the race for the top six earlier in the season, slumped to a 16th-place finish after a dismal end to the campaign.

Their priority now is appointing a new head coach – with former Reims boss Will Still, ex-Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom, Swedish coach Bo Svensson, and Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl among those linked.

Whoever takes charge at the Stadium of Light will do so knowing they must abide by the youth-focussed strategy that Sunderland have implemented under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. Under the Frenchman's ownership, there has been a significant focus on buying young, high-potential players and developing them to be sold on for a profit.

That strategy can make things difficult for the coach in charge as Tony Mowbray found before his sacking late last year.

Rosenior has a great record with young players but it remains to be seen whether the structure at Sunderland might put him off.

Mowbray was appointed by Birmingham in January in a bid to stop the slide that started during Wayne Rooney's ill-fated spell but unfortunately, illness meant he was forced to step away.

His assistant Mark Venus initially filled in and then Gary Rowett was appointed as an interim replacement but Blues would suffer relegation to League One and must now begin a rebuild in the third tier.

They would likely love Mowbray to lead that rebuild but as Nixon reports, they are assessing other options should that no be a possibility.

Rosenior would be a fantastic acquisition but having turned down Plymouth, it would be no surprise if he didn't want to drop into League One.