He left after just 12 games in charge and was replaced by Mike Dodds who’s now overseen 10 games, with five defeats, three draws and two wins to his name.
And after a shaky patch following Beale’s departure, with a 5-1 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on Easter Monday, Sunderland are certainly shoring up.
The Black Cats have lost just one of their last six now after beating West Brom 1-0 away from home last time out.
What kind of manager do the Sunderland owners want
Given the treatment of Tony Mowbray and the hiring of Beale, along with all the names we’ve seen linked with the Sunderland job, it seems clear that the Sunderland owners want a young and innovative coach in.
Sunderland look ready to potentially take a gamble on a manager like Will Still who is inexperienced, but showing some very good signs.
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And journalist Smith believes Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants a coach or a manager who’s had experience of working with some top teams.
That, in turn, makes Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl an ideal candidate.
Sunderland urged to appoint Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl
Rohl is the English Football League’s young manager at 34 years old.
He took charge of Sheffield Wednesday in October, his first job as a manager, after previously working as a coach with the likes of Southampton, Red Bull Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and the German national team.
Rohl worked as the no.2 with both Bayern and Germany and has since prevailed as a manager in South Yorkshire.
He has 13 wins to his name in 35 games in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, who were winless this season before Rohl took charge.
Speaking on the Roar Podcast, Smith gave his verdict on Rohl, who has been linked with Sunderland, saying:
“Danny Rohl would make a lot of sense to me. He has what Kyril seems to crave, and what his statement from when Tony Mowbray was sacked seems to crave, which is a (in very heavy inverted commas here) an elite coaching pedigree. That seems to be Kyril’s primary desire; someone who’s worked in an elite-like environment.”
Smith continued:
“He has an ultra-aggressive playing style; Sheffield Wednesday have not almost got themselves out of trouble by sort of, defending in a low block and knicking set pieces. They have a go, so again, that ticks a box.”
Finally, Smith said Rohl would be “an outstanding candidate.”
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has to break the mould for his next manager
Sunderland don’t seem to be short of funding, but they’re very stringent.
They’re proving to be very resourceful and careful with their money and it’s been speculated that the Black Cats may prefer to hire an out-of-work manager rather than one already in a job.
This was echoed by Kristjaan Speakman in the recent Supporters’ Collective meeting at the club.
But like Smith says, Rohl is ideal for Sunderland and Louis-Dreyfus; he has the CV and now the Championship experience, albeit not a huge amount, but he’s working wonders with a very average Wednesday side.
And if Sunderland are genuine about being in the Premier League sooner rather than later then they have to put their money where their mouth is.
Granted, Sunderland spent money last summer and n January, but arguably in the wrong places.
With Jack Clarke bound to leave this summer, Sunderland will surely have some spare cash for either new players or a manager.
Rohl seems like a very good fit and if Louis-Dreyfus thinks so too, he should break the current mould and buy him out of Sheffield Wednesday.
