Will Still is free to join Sunderland without the Black Cats paying compensation after quitting Reims yesterday.
The 31-year-old head coach announced he was leaving the French side by mutual agreement and is now a free agent. Still is expected to head to the Championship. He was the leading contender to succeed Tony Mowbray in December.
However he penned a new deal at Reims and Sunderland limped to the end of the season with Michael Beale and then interim appointment Michael Dodds in charge.
Sunderland are scouring Europe for a young coach who can develop their promising kids, including Jobe Bellingham, and conjure a promotion push. It is unclear if Still’s departure is related to Sunderland wanting to announce a new boss immediately after the season ends next week.
Still, a Belgian born to English parents is top of Sunderland’s wanted list along with Bayern Munich U19 coach Rene Maric and Paul Heckinbottom also in the frame.
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He had been in charge at the Stade Auguste Delaune since October 2022 and signed a two-year contract extension last summer, but departs along with assistant, younger brother Nicolas.
A statement on the club’s official website said: “Following a meeting held this morning between president Jean-Pierre Caillot, general manager Mathieu Lacour and head coach Will Still, it was mutually agreed that the two parties would not continue the sporting adventure together next season.
“In view of this decision and in order to allow Stade de Reims to confidently look forward to the next financial year, it was also decided that Will Still and his deputy Nicolas Still would step down from their respective functions as of today.”
Will Still is keen to continue his career in England (ANP via Getty Images)Still, who has spoken previously of his desire to work in England, has guided his side into in 11th place in the table – the position in which they finished last season after he had presided over a 19-game unbeaten run – with three games to play.
Caillot said: “Stade de Reims would like to thank Will and Nicolas Still for their investment and all these beautiful emotions experienced together.
“At the heart of a unique club project, known and recognised for its ability to reveal all talents, we are proud to have been able to contribute to the emergence of a coach who knew how to impose his convictions and his playing identity.”
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