LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Chairman of Sunderland reacts during the on March 14, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around England remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
It is now a week since Kyril Louis-Dreyfus finally broke the silence that had enveloped Wearside since the season began to drift away in painful fashion, acknowledging the length of the wait and saying that the process was in its final stages. A decision was said to be imminent. He did say hopefully, but even so, this was surely a sign that we were finally nearing the end of the road. As it stands Frank Lampard is the overwhelming favourite with the bookmakers, though this a source of some bemusement to sources with knowledge of the race who say there is nothing to it at this stage. This in itself still tells a larger and more troubling story, a search that seems to drift and go round in circles even on its 116th day.
Sunderland will appoint a new head coach at some point, and yet the problem now is the protracted nature of the search and the seemingly multiple setbacks within it will cast a long shadow even as the new boss gets to work and thoughts turn to the next campaign. Nearly six weeks since the end of the campaign, we can now say with some degree of certainty that either Sunderland’s succession planning is nowhere near as good as it ought and is claimed to be, or that the vacancy is not as attractive as it ought to be. Or both.
