Sunderland have received an eye-opening warning over manager target Will Still. Sunderland received a significant assist in their managerial search when long-term target Still, 31, left French Ligue 1 club Reims at the beginning of May.
Still wanted by Sunderland after Tony Mowbray was fired, and he reportedly spoke with club executives before Michael Beale was hired. Reims’ high compensation cost for Still was supposed to be a deterrent for the Black Cats, but he is now a free agent. Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has yet to make a move for Still, although he is believed to be a person of interest at the Stadium of Light.
There are other names involved, however, and Louis-Dreyfus may take note of developing statements from Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot.
Jean-Pierre Caillot fires Sunderland warning over Will Still
In an interview with French media, Reims president Caillot discussed the 2023/24 season and the fallout with former manager Still.
The Belgian-English coach took over in October 2022 and has overseen 65 games with a 38.46% victory rate. He departed the team in 11th place in the Ligue table, following a run of three consecutive losses. Last season, Still led Reims to a 19-game unbeaten streak. Caillot earlier stated that since Still’s involvement with Sunderland, operating the club has become a ‘nightmare’. Caillot told France Bleu: “Will Still, it’s a very wonderful narrative and meeting. He matched our desired profile. However, taking on young people carries some risk.
At Stade de Reims, we give young people a chance at all levels, whether as players or staff, and when we have young individuals, we must recognize that they will make mistakes. “I believe the ‘Will Still effect’ meant that he communicated frequently and made several requests. “A more experienced coach would have protected himself more, and he went from being a nice guy with a fresh air, to someone who was a little lost in his communication and this was felt in his management of the team.”
Sunderland could repeat costly mistake with Will Still
Caillot’s words are certainly interesting reading, and they make Still seem a lot like one previous Sunderland manager in particular: Beale. Caillot claims that Still lacked communication skills, which Beale has, and that journalist Phil Smith feels this would be an important component when Sunderland choose their new manager. And this is undoubtedly something that comes with age and experience. So for the Black Cats, it opens up the possibility of bringing Still to Wearside this summer. There have been experienced names associated with the Sunderland position, notably Paul Heckingbottom, but Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman appear determined to hire a much younger coach.
There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to potentially hiring Still, and Caillot has provided Sunderland with some food for thought. His Reims departure appeared to happen quickly, maybe due to Still, who may have been swayed by interest from clubs like as Sunderland. The young coach will have had a learning curve, but whether it was enough to prepare him for Sunderland remains to be seen.
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