Sunderland hoping to appoint Lee Johnson after talks with the former Bristol City boss

Sunderland hoping to name former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson as their manager to work under new sporting director Kristjaan Speakman

  • Sunderland hope to name former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson as new manager 
  • The Black Cats sacked Phil Parkinson earlier this week with the club seventh 
  • They appointed Kristjaan Speakman as their new sporting director on Friday

Sunderland are hoping to appoint Lee Johnson as their new head coach after talks with the former Bristol City boss.

The Black Cats sacked Phil Parkinson earlier this week with the team seventh in League One.

They confirmed the arrival of Birmingham City’s Kristjaan Speakman as their new sporting director on Friday, and Johnson is expected to follow.

Sunderland are hoping to appoint former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson as their new manager

Gus Poyet, Danny Cowley and Paul Cook were also on the managerial shortlist, but it is Johnson who has impressed the hierarchy.

The 39-year-old was sacked by Bristol City in July after four years at Ashton Gate. It is thought he is willing to work within the new continental model being devised at the Stadium of Light and is set to become their seventh manager in five years.

The club expect Johnson to follow Birmingham City's Kristjaan Speakman as sporting director

The club expect Johnson to follow Birmingham City’s Kristjaan Speakman as sporting director 

In a statement confirming Speakman’s arrival, Sunderland said the 41-year-old would ‘take primary responsibility for reviewing and implementing new strategies to develop the club’s footballing infrastructure, with an emphasis on data analytics and innovation, and providing a clear pathway from the younger age groups to the first team’.



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