Sunderland's new head coach will be allowed to bring in their own backroom staff this summer providing it is an 'appropriate recommendation' with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman also not ruling out a move for a head coach currently in work.
Sunderland's season has all but evaporated after a run of seven consecutive Championship games without a win, including six defeats, which has coincided with a change in the dug out after the club parted ways with head coach Michael Beale after just 12 league games in charge.
Beale's appointment was hoped to enhance Sunderland's playing identity further after things had somewhat stagnated under Tony Mowbray, despite the club being just three points outside the play-off spots at the time of his departure, while also improving results in the short-term with Mowbray having won just two of his last nine games in charge at the Stadium of Light.
But Beale's tenure was marred from the off after suffering a 3-0 defeat by Coventry City in his first game in charge - a result which saw supporters vocally expressing both their frustration at Beale's appointment and admiration for Mowbray.
Beale, perhaps unfortunately, was also caught up in the club's off-field affairs throughout what was a damaging process leading up to the FA Cup third round tie with Newcastle United in early January - matters which majority owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has now declared as concluded following an internal investigation into why the club's premier hospitality suite, The Black Cats Bar, was decorated in Newcastle's colours and slogans.
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Things worsened for Beale with what transpired on the field for Sunderland against Newcastle in what was a fairly unambitious approach against the Premier League side, resulting in a demoralising 3-0 defeat to their rivals.
In a recent meeting with supporters' groups, Speakman confessed to Beale's approach throughout his tenure being geared towards a focus on 'not conceding certain types of goals' which negatively impacted a playing style which had been cherished in the club's first season back in the Championship under Mowbray.
With Mowbray and Beale both now gone, Mike Dodds was placed in interim charge for a third time until the end of the season to allow Speakman and the rest of the club's ownership group time to identify and pursue their ideal candidates to take over as head coach in the summer, with the club hopefully still in the Championship next season.
Stade de Reims head coach Will Still remains on Sunderland's radar after the club were unable to pry him away from the Ligue 1 side in December following Mowbray's dismissal. The 31-year-old former Preston North End coach has hinted at a desire for his next job to be in England but that would likely require Sunderland to agree a compensation package with the French side for his services, something Speakman has not ruled out despite feeling there is 'little correlation to a compensation fee and future success.' Sunderland's sporting director suggested: "Opportunities must be viable and sensible, but that does not mean the club wouldn’t source a head coach currently in post at another club."
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One stumbling block in the past might have been the club's intention to persist with the current staff in place at the Academy of Light with the likes of Dodds and Michael Proctor forming part of any potential backroom team for a new head coach, much like we saw with Beale.
Having left Rangers earlier in the season, Beale arrived in the North East alone, without any of his backroom staff, with the task being to integrate alongside those already in place. That idea is something which may need to change in the summer if they are to attract their preferred candidate - Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Röhl another linked with the vacancy given his endeavours at Hillsborough in their fight to avoid relegation this season.
But Speakman has hinted a new head coach will be allowed to bring certain members of staff with them 'providing it was an appropriate recommendation' and they tie in with Sunderland's strategy. He added the club are also 'keen to maintain consistency and continuity across football operations as, like new ideas, input and people, this will aid success.'
Sunderland are now engaging in meetings with prospective head coaches which will advance into formal interviews and a decision ahead of next season.
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