Sunderland received a significant boost in their managerial search when their long-term target, 31-year-old Will Still, left French Ligue 1 side Reims at the start of May.
Still was on Sunderland’s radar after the club sacked Tony Mowbray, and he reportedly spoke with club officials before Michael Beale was appointed. Reims’ hefty compensation fee for Still was initially a deterrent for the Black Cats, but with Still now a free agent, the situation has changed.
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has not yet made a move for Still, but it is believed that he remains a person of interest at the Stadium of Light. However, other names are also being considered, and Louis-Dreyfus may take into account recent comments from Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot.
Jean-Pierre Caillot fires Sunderland warning over Will Still
Speaking to French media, Reims president Caillot discussed the 2023/24 season and the fallout with former manager Will Still.
The Belgian-English coach initially took charge in October 2022, overseeing 65 games with a win rate of 38.46%. He left the club in 11th place in the Ligue 1 table after a run of three straight defeats. Last season, Still led Reims on a 19-game unbeaten run.
Caillot previously mentioned that managing the club had become a “nightmare” since Still had been linked with Sunderland.
Caillot told France Bleu: “Will Still, it’s a very beautiful story, a very beautiful meeting. He matched the profile we wanted. But then, it’s a bit of a risk when you take on young people.
“Here, at Stade de Reims, we give young people a chance at all levels, whether players or staff, and when we have young people, we have to accept at times that they make mistakes.
“I think that the ‘Will Still effect’ meant that there were a lot of communications from him, a lot of 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 comments are quite revealing and make Still sound similar to a former Sunderland manager, Beale. Caillot suggests that Still lacked communication skills, a trait Beale also struggled with. Journalist Phil Smith believes that communication skills will be a crucial factor when Sunderland selects their next manager.
This need for strong communication is something that typically comes with age and experience, opening the possibility for Sunderland to consider bringing Still to Wearside this summer.
Several experienced candidates have been linked to the Sunderland job, including Paul Heckingbottom, but Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman seem determined to hire a younger coach.
There are certainly pros and cons to potentially hiring Still, and Caillot’s insights have given Sunderland something to ponder. Still’s fallout at Reims appeared to happen quickly, possibly due to his interest being piqued by clubs like Sunderland. This experience could be a learning curve for the young coach, though whether it has adequately prepared him for a role at Sunderland remains to be seen.
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