Johnson set to be the new Cats boss
SUNDERLAND look set to appoint Lee Johnson as head coach to work under new sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.
The Black Cats have held talks with numerous candidates this week, former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet, ex-Huddersfield Town manager Danny Cowley and former Wigan manager Paul Cook among those on their shortlist.
Poyet ruled himself out of the running on Tuesday while Cowley is known to prefer having full control over transfers - which might have made working under a sporting director more difficult.
While the deal has yet to be finalised, the Chronicle understands former Bristol City boss Johnson is the man Sunderland want to succeed Phil Parkinson, who was sacked last weekend.
Johnson’s appointment as head coach would be as part of a new structure on Wearside, former Birmingham City academy manager Speakman confirmed in the key role of sporting director yesterday.
Johnson, 39, has experience working as head coach at City, where chief executive Mark Ashton was in overall charge of day-to-day football operations - just as Speakman is expected to have a major say in transfer policy at the Stadium of Light.
Johnson spent four years at Bristol City after leaving Barnsley to take the job at Ashton Gate in February 2016 when the club was in dire relegation danger.
He steered the club out of trouble to finish 12 points clear of the relegation zone in 18th place before enduring a difficult first full season in charge which saw the Robins finish 17th. He then oversaw steady improvement, City finishing 11th in 201718 and eighth in 2018-19.
Johnson was sacked by City in July following a run of four straight defeats, the club going on to finish 12th.
He has experience of working in League One after starting his managerial career in the third tier with Oldham Athletic in 2013.
After two years at Boundary Park, he moved on to another League One side in Barnsley where he spent 12 months in charge and took the club to the EFL Trophy final before taking over at Bristol.
Speakman, meanwhile, will work alongside chief executive Jim Rodwell but his brief will be to oversee the running of the ootball side of the club and to take a leading role in transfer policy.
The club says Speakman’s role will also have ‘an emphasis on data analytics and innovation and providing a clear pathway from the younger age groups to the first team’.
Of his new role, Speakman said: “I have been tasked with delivering a best-in-class player development model from the academy through to the senior squad and een given a realistic timeframe and budget with which to do so.
“It is an absolute honour to have been invited to do this at one of England’s biggest clubs.
“The blueprint for the future and the ambition to create a sustainable structure with a clear identity is one I will work diligently and passionately to bring to fruition for Sunderland fans.
“We understand the frustration of the present circumstances.
“While we seek patience and continued support for the longer-term objectives, we are absolutely determined to fix key issues in the short term to establish a winning team.”