Sunderland closing in on head coach appointment with wait almost over

Sunderland are reportedly in advanced talks with French manager Regis Le Bris to become the club’s next head coach. Le Bris is currently the boss of French outfit FC Lorient, who were relegated from Ligue 1 this season, and the 48-year-old is on the verge of departing Lorient for Wearside.

Reports state that Sunderland are trying to tie up loose ends with Lorient regarding Le Bris’ contract. The Frenchman was said to be on a five-man shortlist drawn up by the hierarchy following the sacking of Michael Beale in February. The process of finding a head coach has been a lengthy one and the fact Le Bris requires a work permit to work in the UK as further stalled any confirmation.

Le Bris is currently the main candidate for the role and Sunderland will aim to act quickly given that players return for pre-season in a matter of days and to quell supporters’ frustrations with the over four-month long wait for a permanent successor to Beale.

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Le Bris took over FC Lorient in his senior first managerial role in June 2022, and guided the side to an impressive 10th-placed finish in Ligue 1 during his first season, with the orange-and-blacks as high as second spot at one point, only behind Paris St Germain.

Last season however, Lorient were relegated from Ligue 1 after finishing second bottom - but there are mitigating factors, with the club selling many of their top players the previous summer.

Two weeks ago, Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus announced that the next head coach appointment was “imminent”, and with a fortnight having gone by the club will be looking to get Le Bris signed and sealed on Wearside within the coming days ahead of an important transfer window and pre-season.