MAKING A MESS:Alan Nixon has questioned Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’s handling of the managerial situation at Sunderland

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - JANUARY 6: Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Sunderland and Newcastle United at Stadium of Light on January 6, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Sunderland have been without a manager since dismissing Michael Beale in February, a decision that drew criticism just two months after his appointment. Despite a long list of names emerging since the end of the season, it was expected that an appointment would be made swiftly.

However, weeks passed with each candidate either choosing other opportunities or declining the position with the Black Cats. Sunderland have been unsuccessful in securing appointments with Will Still, Rene Maric, Bo Svensson, Pascal Jansen, and Liam Rosenior. The situation intensified when Rosenior withdrew his interest shortly after the club claimed a new manager would be appointed “imminently.”

Queens Park Rangers manager Marti Cifuentes is watching during the first half of the Sky Bet Championship match between Leicester City and Queens P...

One of the few publicly known candidates for Sunderland’s managerial position is QPR boss Marti Cifuentes, who has reportedly caught the interest of the Wearside club. However, Alan Nixon reported that Sunderland would need to pay a hefty six-figure compensation fee to bring him north, making such a move unlikely.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is ‘making a mess’ of Sunderland manager hunt

The journalist has faced further questions regarding the Spaniard, with one fan expressing doubt that the club would pay his compensation fee. Nixon responded on X: “If they can’t afford compo why start the ball rolling in the first place? Making a mess of this.”

Sunderland fans only became aware of their interest in Cifuentes in the last few days, but Nixon revealed that the club initiated the process almost a week ago. Whether this involved merely expressing interest or actually contacting the club remains unclear.

Is Marti Cifuentes still worth pursuing?

However, this raises the question of why Sunderland’s interest persisted in recent days, given that they would have known about his compensation fee since last week.

The Black Cats have largely focused on free agent managers, so it would be surprising if they were now willing to pay a compensation fee. This would also reflect the desperation that seems to be enveloping the Stadium of Light.

While Cifuentes appears to be one of the better remaining options, it would be surprising if either side was willing to make that move work. It feels like the club is further wasting time on a pursuit that seems unlikely to materialize.

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