Advocaat, who took over from Uruguayan Gus Poyet in March, had initially planned to leave Sunderland at the end of last season but stayed on after they staged an escape act to avoid relegation.
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He was approached by Lee Congerton – Sunderland’s departing sporting director who is now working out his notice after resigning – but the manager hunt is being driven by Ellis Short, the club’s owner, and it is thought Sam Allardyce appeals to the American financier.
But Poyet has warned that the club require more than a change of manager to arrest their long-term decline. But, given the clubs’ stature and its consecutive seasons as a Premier League club they should surely be better than a relegation scrap every year, should they not?
Keane and Peter Reid remain well loved on Wearside, by the majority of supporters, for the way they embraced their time in the North-East and led revivals out of the Football League by securing promotion to the Premier League.
“In my opinion he could take over any club in Europe without a problem, maybe apart from the biggest clubs”, Hjorth said.
“I have made the decision to go after only eight games as I felt it was important to give everyone time turn things around – like we did past year”.
Brendan Rodgers, sacked by Liverpool on Sunday, has also been mentioned but the chances of landing him would appear slim so soon after his Anfield exit, while Nigel Pearson continues to be linked.
However, those rumours were played down as Pearson is one of many names that have been drawn up after the resignation of Dick Advocaat at the weekend after their 2-2 draw with West Ham United. “The fans supported me until the last day, although they did not know I was leaving”.
“Whoever takes it has a tough job on his hands”. I think it is clear now that it is not the manager.
Advocaat’s departure has created a vacancy Sunderland need to fill as quickly as possible, with first team coach Paul Bracewell and senior professional development coach Robbie Stockdale now looking after those players not away on global duty.
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Allardyce is without a managerial job at the moment, and he would be a suitable candidate for Sunderland.
