Former Sunderland striker Ally McCoist says Sunderland should look to Ipswich Town as a blueprint for future success, adding that the club needs “their own version” of Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna to lead them forward.
McCoist identified youth, hunger, and playing style as three significant factors in the Black Cats’ hunt for a new manager. He played over 50 games for Sunderland between 1981 and 1983, followed by a 15-year career with Glasgow Rangers, where he appeared over 400 times.
“Things clearly didn’t work out with Michael Beale and I think Sunderland need their own version of Kieran McKenna at Ipswich – he’s done a phenomenal job there,” McCoist said in an interview with talkSPORT BET. “I look at him and wonder whether there are any other young coaches who could come into Sunderland and galvanise the team.
“Someone needs to lead the club forward because the potential is enormous. They require a good, youthful, hungry coach who has his own ideas and is supported by the board. Fans are pleading for someone to come in who they can rally behind and take them to the next level, because they are now stuck in the mud.
“The mood in Sunderland is great. I attended the FA Cup game against Newcastle earlier this season, and the atmosphere was unparalleled outside of the Old Firm.
Looking back on previous managers, McCoist voiced his continual surprise that Tony Mowbray was let go by the club earlier this season, stating that he believed the former manager was “the man” to lead Sunderland forward.
He added: “I thought Tony Mowbray was the man for Sunderland, and I still don’t understand what happened to him. They were justifiably defeated by Luton in the play-offs the previous season, and they did not start this season poorly. Now I look at them and think they need someone to come in and really galvanise the area.”
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