After leaving Reims yesterday, Will Still is free to sign with Sunderland without having to pay the Black Cats any money.
The 31-year-old head coach of the French team declared his departure by mutual consent, and he is currently free to sign with another team. is anticipated to proceed to the Championship. In December, he was the front-runner to replace Tony Mowbray.
But he signed a new contract at Reims, and Sunderland struggled to the remainder of the season under the leadership of Michael Beale and later Michael Dodds, an interim appointment.
Seeking a youthful mentor who can nurture their bright prospects, such as Jobe Bellingham, and inspire a push for promotion, Sunderland is searching throughout Europe. It’s unclear if Still’s exit has anything to do with Sunderland’s desire to name a new manager as soon as the season concludes next week.
Still, Paul Heckinbottom, coach of Bayern Munich U19 Rene Maric, and a Belgian born to English parents are at the top of Sunderland’s coveted list.
He and his assistant, younger brother Nicolas, are leaving the Stade Auguste Delaune. He had been in command since October 2022 and had signed a two-year contract extension last summer.
“After a meeting held this morning between president Jean-Pierre Caillot, general manager Mathieu Lacour, and head coach Will Still, it was mutually agreed that the two parties would not continue the sporting adventure together next season,” read a statement posted on the club’s official website.
It was also determined that Will Still and his deputy Nicolas Still would resign from their positions as of today in light of this decision and to enable Stade de Reims to confidently look ahead to the upcoming fiscal year.
With three games remaining, Still, who has previously expressed his wish to manage in England, has led his team into 11th place in the standings, where they ended the previous season after he oversaw a 19-game winning streak.
According to Caillot, “Stade de Reims would like to express its gratitude to Will and Nicolas Still for their support and for sharing all these wonderful feelings.”
“At the core of an exceptional club initiative that is renowned for its capacity to uncover all abilities, we are honored to have had a hand in the rise of a coach who was not afraid to enforce his beliefs and his playing identity.”