New vacancy at SAFC

An ex Sunderland player thinks Ellis Short was wrong to sack Martin O’Neill at a critical point in the season. Thousands of fans now begin the speculation game as to who will get the Black Cats get out of the hole they have dug for themselves.

How different the picture looks now when compared to O’Neill’s arrival when he inspired the team to a great return from his first 10 games. What he and the fans would have given for the team to have that same points haul after the last 10.

One of the names touted for the role has already ruled himself out. Steve McClaren’s agent  is quoted as saying, “It’s obviously a nice position for Steve, but as I understand Sunderland have already got somebody in place,” Colin Gordon told BBC Sport. This suggests the post is already filled only hours after O’Neill’s departure. One fan’s forum seems to be suggesting a strong majority of fans favoring Paulo Di Canio to take up the helm. If this is to be the next appointment for Sunderland, it will be a controversial one as is the way with Di Canio.

At the time of writing, a small poll suggests a majority in favour but there is an undercurrent of discomfort suggested by the near 40% that would not be happy with the appointment http://www.rokerreport.com/2013/3/31/4167396/poll-would-you-be-happy-if-we-appointed-paolo-di-canio/in/3930833

Di Canio is a formidable character and nothing appears smooth running with him. He was a fiery player and he appears to have lost none of that self belief and drive, judging by his most recent dabble with management at Swindon. He is known as a difficult guy to get along with, with questionable ‘man management’ skills. With Di Canio it’s definitely ‘my way or the highway’ so he won’t suffer fools gladly. If Ellis Short feels shock tactics are what’s required, he’s will have the right guy in Paulo.

How ironic would it be if Sunderland go down as their former manager and the principle architect of the current Sunderland team, passes them on the way up to the Premier League by being promoted with Hull City!

If Sunderland pull of Premiership survival then Short’s intervention will be seen as a master stroke. If however, relegation results, then there will be no rejoicing from the Sunderland faithful. One imagines that wherever Martin O’Neill is watching the final game of the season, he won’t be rejoicing in Sunderland’s demise. The only rejoicing will be a few miles up the coast where the Geordie’s will no doubt be in raptures.

That’s assuming they don’t suffer the same fate!

Shearer to re enter premier league management?

Writing in the Times today, Gary Jacobs identifies Blackburn Rivers have designs on making Alan Shearer their new manager if Steve Kean is sacked. ‘If Steve Kean is sacked’! Surely its only as matter of time before this becomes a reality.

It seems that every Blackburn Rovers fans who cares to make a comment, comes out with the same line, he must go. To a neutral on this matter like me, this seems odd. Steve Kean may not be the most charismatic of managers but he seems to have done a decent job. Who else did Blackburn think they could get? The ‘minor league’ of Premier League management stock in the form of the likes of, Steve Bruce, Mick McCarthy and Owen Coyle may be possibilities but none of these have really done anything remarkable so far.

Kean’s fate is expected to be decided as early as tomorrow after talks with the club owners, despite the club being second in the npower Championship after seven games.

Shearer was part of the Blackburn side that won the Premier League title in 1995, scoring a record 34 goals, and he turned down a previous approach to return to his former club when Sam Allardyce was dismissed as manager in 2010.

Shearer was in charge of Newcastle United for eight games, picking up five points and failing to save them from relegation, in his only previous experience as a manager of a club in 2009. He left Newcastle at the end of that season and held what he described as “unsuccessful” talks about becoming Cardiff City manager last year.

The BBC pundit has previously blamed the Blackburn owners, the Venky’s, for the club’s malaise and has expressed sympathy for Kean in the summer. “There is only the owners you can blame really – they are the only guys you can look at and what disappoints me is that nobody really hears from them,” he said.

Kean, 44, has been under pressure from large sections of fans calling for his dismissal throughout his tenure since he replaced Allardyce. Blackburn were relegated from the Premier League last season and the fans continued their abuse of the Scot after the 2-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough on Friday.

Blackburn are also considering Tim Sherwood, the Tottenham technical co-ordinater, who looks after the development side at the club.

Will this move make Blackburn Rovers a force once again? Share your view.