A SI OF RELIEF
Now Black Cats turn to Preston gaffer Grayson after Wilder is third manager to snub them
SIMON GRAYSON is being lined up to succeed David Moyes as Sunderland look to get a grip on their summer crisis.
The Preston gaffer has emerged as the club’s top target – and now has to make a decision on whether to quit Deepdale.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was the latest boss to turn his back on the job this week.
He was one of a number of coaches of interest to the Wearsiders – including out-of-work Nigel Pearson. But they are now firmly looking at Grayson, who has four promotions on his CV.
Wilder joined Derek McInnes and Garry Monk in turning away from the chance to sort out the turmoil that relegation has caused.
Grayson (above) is on holiday in Spain until the weekend.
Last night Preston insisted they have received no formal approach from the Black Cats for their manager, who is on a one-year rolling contract. Wilder is in talks with the Blades over an improved deal after guiding them to the League One title last term.
Sunderland’s chaotic close season now looks to have turned a corner. But any potential new boss is facing the prospect of a tiny budget of less then £15million to rebuild the Black Cats and turn them into promotion candidates.
The club wants to bounce back within two years when the big Premier League parachute payments of £40m run out.
The uncertainty has reached a peak with owner Ellis Short in negotiations to sell up for £90m this week. But it is unclear whether that figure includes taking on the club’s £137m debt – half of which is owed to Short, who could make the club a more attractive proposition by writing it off.
Half the debt is owed to a bank with interest payments eating up £7m a year, which is unsustainable in the Championship.
The wage bill, which stood at £83m, will reduce by a third because of relegation clauses and a host of players leaving.
Sunderland could be fattened up for a sale with quick deals to offload £7mrated Fabio Borini, whose agent is seeking a move, and Lamine Kone. However Kone, who could have left for Everton for £19m last August, has had his value halved because of last season’s performances.
Short hopes to have news this weekend from a German consortium, who are looking at the finances this week and negotiating a deal.
A new boss will be expected to hunt for bargains in the Football League and north of the border.
Their pre-season training starts on June 29, and includes a five-day trip to Austria.