Sunderland won’t look back on this Championship season with much fondness when the full-time whistle is sounded against Sheffield Wednesday on the final day, with a whole catalogue of errors resulting in the Black Cats having to make do with a run-of-the-mill mid-table finish.

There were once promotion aspirations in the Sunderland camp with Tony Mowbray at the helm, before the disastrous Michael Beale took over and failed spectacularly with just four wins from his quickfire 12 games in charge.

Mike Dodds hasn’t been able to lift spirits at the Stadium of Light as an interim option either, with a dark cloud hanging over proceedings as of late with a dire defeat often coming after a promising victory.

With several names still connected to the highly sought-after position, the Sunderland administration must make the right choice with this next appointment.

Sunderland could hire fantastic Dodds replacement

Early in the year, there were rumors that suggested Paul Heckingbottom, the former manager of Sheffield United, had a good chance of succeeding Dodds. After a brutal Premier League experience, the former Blades manager might return to the rough and tumble of Championship management.

After supervising just one Premier League victory in his 14 seasons in charge, Heckingbottom would leave Bramall Lane this season beaten and broken and replaced by Chris Wilder.

The elevation to the top division was accomplished by the former Leeds United manager, though, and this is undoubtedly one of the reasons Sunderland is considering him as Dodds’ urgent replacement given his dubious background.

Heckingbottom’s influence on Iliman Ndiaye, an offensive midfielder who was selected by Heckingbottom from non-league Boreham Wood to become a star in his promotion-winning team, may be another.

If Dodds steps down, the powers that be at Wearside will be hoping the 46-year-old can work similar magic with Jobe Bellingham. Dodds has had a roller coaster of a time lately while wearing a Black Cats strip.

How Bellingham could perform under Heckingbottom

Heckingbottom is largely to blame for Ndiaye’s successful career ascent; the 24-year-old, who tore up the Championship for the Blades, is currently signed to an Olympique de Marseille contract.

During the promotion-winning season, in which Sheffield United finished in the much sought-after second automatic promotion slot, the Senegalese attacking midfielder became a remarkable star for Heckingbottom’s team, scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists.

If the 46-year-old does enter the building, Bellingham will be hoping he can increase his production to the same levels as Ndiaye. The former Birmingham City young player has scored an impressive seven goals this season, despite his team’s dismal play killing their chances of finishing in the top four.

During that winning season, Heckingbottom even put Ndiaye up top alone himself on a few occasions. This season, Dodds has tried putting Bellingham in the similar role, though it hasn’t always worked out.

Dodds, who called the Birmingham youth product “unbelievable” while discussing what the upcoming Sunderland season holds, will be keeping an eye on how the next manager in the Black Cats hot seat handles the talented teenager at his disposal.

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