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Shock twist sees a new favourite for new Sunderland boss – manager turns down role

A shock twist sees a new favourite for the new Sunderland boss betting market – with one manager, who had been leading, turning down the role.

On Tuesday, we reported how one bookmaker, BetVictor, suspended taking bets on who was be the new manager at the Stadium of Light.

Gus Poyet was the man and everyone seemed confident he was set to be named to replace Phil Parkinson at the Black Cats.

A return for Poyet at was at 1/10 according to Sky Bet for majority of Tuesday with also keen on the job Danny Cowley at 7/1.

Now the two have switched position, with Cowley the leading candidate at 10/11 and Poyet in second at 7/4.

Friday’s draw at Fleetwood was a third league game without a win for the Black Cats, leaving them eighth in the League One table. However a 1-1 draw against Burton on Tuesday sees them up to 7th.

Poyet, who left the Black Cats in 2015, has previously said he’d be open to a return to the Stadium of Light one day.

In recent weeks – prior to Parkinson’s dismissal – he told the ‘Speaking Sunderland’ podcast: “Could I return? Yes, of course,” said Poyet.

“Because there are things that are still possible to change. It’s a different situation, but it’s something that…when you’ve been in a club and you’ve been so close to people and then everyone watches the series ‘Sunderland Til I Die’ and the first thing they do, is they call you and ask you (about it).

“You’ve been there, and it confirmed things you already told them because that’s what ‘Sunderland Til I Die’ does, confirms to people things I told them when I left Sunderland.

“It’s like, you want to go back because it’s typical South American passion, you know, the fans. So, that relationship we made with the fans, even if it didn’t finish in the best way, I am still thinking that it’s possible to do something important there.

“It’s easier when you know how much it (the club) means to the fans, how important it is to the city, so yeah, of course (he would go back).”

Yet, according to Sky Sports and various other reports on Tuesday evening, Gus Poyet has ruled himself out of the running.

More news has come out that former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson is in the frame to become the new Sunderland manager, Football Insider reveal, however aren’t exactly reliable.

Ex-Barnsley and Hearts boss Daniel Stendel has applied for the Sunderland job, the Echo understands.

Paul Cook has also been linked with the role but isn’t the new favourite for the Sunderland boss.

Speaking to the Totally Football League Show, the former Latics and Portsmouth boss said: “I seen an interesting stat over the weekend, and forgive me if I get it slightly wrong, I think Sunderland have drawn 35 of their last something games 1-1, whatever it was.

“Which is incredible, isn’t it?

“And one of the factors that you have to factor in and Sunderland fans probably won’t want to hear it.

“Every team that plays Sunderland, it’s their cup final, every single team. Every team that turns up at that Stadium of Light will give a percentage more than they give every other week.

“And that comes with the territory. You know, unfortunately, if you play for Sunderland you must be able to carry that and deliver.

“If you manage Sunderland, you must carry that and deliver.”

Cook, however, did show a degree of sympathy for their’s latest managerial casualty.

“I think from Phil Parkinson’s point of view, the biggest disappointment is that he wasn’t given the time for anybody to know whether he would have been promoted or not.

“You know, that’s always the difficulty for a manager.”

It’s said that Sunderland are looking to appoint a new manager by the weekend.

Meanwhile, the club’s kit man John Cooke could take the club to a tribunal after being made redundant.

The long-serving kit manager John Cooke was sacked after more than 25 years in the role after being furloughed along with the rest of the club’s backroom staff at the end of March after the season was suspended due to the coronavirus, and hasn’t been recalled to work to prepare for the start of the new campaign.

Cooke, who spent six years as a player with the Black Cats before and returning to the club in 1994 in the role of kit manager, is a popular character in the dressing room and his absence has been keenly felt by players and staff.

Cooke said: “It’s very disappointing to be made redundant from the club where I’ve spent more than 30 years as a player and staff member, without even a mention that I have left.

“The way it has been handled leaves an especially sour taste, and I’m looking at what legal options are available to me.”

So, time to revisit those bookies odds then, here’s what they’re saying…

Danny Cowley – 10/11 (new favourite for Sunderland boss)
Gus Poyet – 7/4
Paul Cook – 11/2
Lee Johnson – 6/1
Nigel Pearson – 18/1
Daniel Stendel – 20/1
Andrew Taylor – 25/1
Eddie Howe – 25/1
Jocelyn Gourvennec – 25/1
John O’Shea – 25/1

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