Sunderland board blasted and told Frank Lampard won't come under 'worrying' guidelines

Former West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Sunderland are risking losing players because of the delay in appointing a head coach. The 58-year-old ex-England international criticised Sunderland for the time it’s taking to appoint a manager.

He has also questioned the club’s supposed philosophy of a manager not being able to sign the players they want, and not being able to bring in their own staff to work with. Although Frank Lampard is right up there among the bookies’ favourites, Palmer doesn’t think the Chelsea legend would be happy working within strict guidelines.

Speaking in an interview with Football League World, Palmer said: “Like I’ve said before, I’m repeating myself week in and week out. It must be very worrying for supporters that still, to this day, that they haven’t been able to secure the services of a head coach.

Read more: 'Club must get it sorted' Sunderland still search for manager as top candidate 'out the race'

“Frank Lampard will obviously be desperate to get back into the game, but he won’t want to get in under the terms that Sunderland want the head coach to work under – not being able to bring your own staff, not being able to sign the players you want to sign. It’s alright having a mantra that you want to sign and develop young players, but also for a manager, you want to be successful – it’s getting that balance.

“Tony Mowbray I believe got that balance and got close to getting them promoted to the Premier League, and they fired Tony Mowbray. Frank is desperate to get in work, but I can’t imagine Frank working under those circumstances.

“It’s a fantastic football club, Sunderland, it’s well-supported, it’s got good young players, and I’m telling you now they’re in danger of losing their players. They’ve got players under contract for two or three years, but they’re in danger of losing their players in the summer, because they certainly won’t be renewing their contracts until they know who the head coach is going to be and if they’re going to be able to work with that said head coach.”

Sunderland have not had a permanent manager since Michael Beale was sacked more than four months ago. And it has been reported that Sunderland players, Chris Rigg being one in particular, has agreed to sign a new deal with the club but only when he knows who the new head coach is.