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Sunderland close in on Martin O'Neill as replacement for Steve Bruce but Mark Hughes still in contention for vacant manager's post
The Black Cats are hoping the former Aston Villa boss will restore the feel-good factor on Wearside as club owner Ellis Short tries to halt slide towards Championship
1 Dec 2011 23:45:00
Getty Images
By Rob Stewart
Sunderland are hoping to confirm on Friday that former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has accepted the challenge of steering the Wearside club away from relegation trouble after interest in Mark Hughes cooled.
Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has taken the lead in a charm offensive towards the out-of-work O’Neill and has held productive talks in London with the former Northern Ireland international who supported the Wearside club as a boy.
O’Neill is now poised to win the race to replace Steve Bruce after the Sunderland hierachy moved to win over disillusioned fans and although contact has been made with Hughes, the Welshman seems likely to have to wait for another opening.
Quinn, who is now the international development director at the Stadium of Light, has led the negotiations while club owner Ellis Short remained in the background until Thursday evening as the Premier League strugglers seek a replacement for Bruce who was sacked on Wednesday.
Bruce was given the boot following a run of two wins in 13 league games and a humiliating Carling Cup exit at the hands of newly-promoted League One side Brighton & Hove Albion.
The decision to move for O’Neill rather than Hughes will appease disgruntled Black Cats fans who have been clamouring for the one-time Leicester City manager since Peter Reid was dismissed nine years ago.
“Discussions with Martin O’Neill are on-going and they are optimistic that although there are still a few hurdles to negotiate that they can give him the assurances that he needs before taking the job on,” a source close to the talks told Goal.com.
“There is a willingness on both sides to get something sorted out. Martin O’Neill knows that he won’t get a bigger job than the one at Sunderland.
“Mark Hughes is still on the shortlist but the feeling is that Martin O’Neill will get the fans back onside. He’s the fans’ favourite and he’ll be a crowd-pleaser.”
O’Neill has been out of work since dramatically quitting Villa but according to reports on Wearside he has been given a glowing reference by club owner Randy Lerner to his fellow American businessman Short.
Hughes remains on the Sunderland radar thanks to his endeavours at Blackburn where he turned the Ewood Park club into a mid-table Premier League club before taking over at Manchester City but now only a sudden change of heart by O’Neill will allow him to revive his career in the North-East of England.
Sunderland are hoping to confirm on Friday that former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has accepted the challenge of steering the Wearside club away from relegation trouble after interest in Mark Hughes cooled.
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Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has taken the lead in a charm offensive towards the out-of-work O’Neill and has held productive talks in London with the former Northern Ireland international who supported the Wearside club as a boy.
O’Neill is now poised to win the race to replace Steve Bruce after the Sunderland hierachy moved to win over disillusioned fans and although contact has been made with Hughes, the Welshman seems likely to have to wait for another opening.
Quinn, who is now the international development director at the Stadium of Light, has led the negotiations while club owner Ellis Short remained in the background until Thursday evening as the Premier League strugglers seek a replacement for Bruce who was sacked on Wednesday.
Bruce was given the boot following a run of two wins in 13 league games and a humiliating Carling Cup exit at the hands of newly-promoted League One side Brighton & Hove Albion.
The decision to move for O’Neill rather than Hughes will appease disgruntled Black Cats fans who have been clamouring for the one-time Leicester City manager since Peter Reid was dismissed nine years ago.
“Discussions with Martin O’Neill are on-going and they are optimistic that although there are still a few hurdles to negotiate that they can give him the assurances that he needs before taking the job on,” a source close to the talks told Goal.com.
“There is a willingness on both sides to get something sorted out. Martin O’Neill knows that he won’t get a bigger job than the one at Sunderland.
“Mark Hughes is still on the shortlist but the feeling is that Martin O’Neill will get the fans back onside. He’s the fans’ favourite and he’ll be a crowd-pleaser.”
O’Neill has been out of work since dramatically quitting Villa but according to reports on Wearside he has been given a glowing reference by club owner Randy Lerner to his fellow American businessman Short.
Hughes remains on the Sunderland radar thanks to his endeavours at Blackburn where he turned the Ewood Park club into a mid-table Premier League club before taking over at Manchester City but now only a sudden change of heart by O’Neill will allow him to revive his career in the North-East of England.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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