Updated next Sunderland manager odds: Keane off, McCann or Neil on?
Three defeats in a row, a sacked manager, and now the eagerly anticipated return of Roy Keane apparently in the bin. It’s been a torrid time for Sunderland of late.
Betting was suspended on Keane’s comeback last Friday. The ex-Black Cats boss was believed to have held at least two interviews with his former employers, and was reportedly offered the job on Wednesday. But now The Athletic report that the Irishman is “no longer under consideration” for the League One vacancy.
So what now for Sunderland?
Their promotion charge has been rocked by three straight defeats to Bolton, Doncaster, and Cheltenham, ahead of Saturday’s rapidly approaching fixture away to AFC Wimbledon. A game they simply must win. But will a new manager be in place by then?
With Keane reportedly off the table, the spotlight has turned onto the likes of Grant McCann, Alex Neil and Sabri Lamouchi.
All three managers are out-of-work, all three were previously employed in the league Sunderland are desperately attempting to return to - The Championship - and all three featured prominently in the re-opened next Sunderland manager market, which in an instant has been snapped shut again.
It’s Grant McCann who was installed as the new favourite for the post, with his odds going from 4/1 to 6/4 to 1/2 in a heartbeat.
The Northern Irish manager previously took Doncaster to the League One play-offs, then led Hull to the League One title, only to lose his job last month after the club’s takeover.
He could now be set for a rapid return to management with the Black Cats.
However, nothing is set in stone and there's every chance there could be other names in the frame.
Former Preston manager Alex Neil has overseen two promotion campaigns; leading Norwich to the Premier League and Hamilton into the SPL. There have been various reports that it's actually the Scot who is now the No.1 contender for the post.
Sabri Lamouchi spent just over a season in charge of Nottingham Forest who looked all set for a Championship play-off finish only to miss out on the final day of the 2019/20 season. Prior to that the Frenchman managed Rennes, while his last job was a 32-game spell at Qatari club Al-Duhail.
Veteran gaffer and promotion specialist Neil Warnock has been touted, as have Melbourne City’s A-League Premiership and Championship winning manager Patrick Kisnorbo and ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon, while John Terry is admittedly an outside option.