THE imminent announcement that Chris Coleman is set to become the new manager of perma-crisis club Sunderland should come as a welcome surprise.
Some fans were expecting our CEO, Martin Bain, to instead opt for a more ‘safe’ appointment.
Coleman worked wonders with Wales during his near six-year stint as boss of the country of his birth, most prominently guiding them to a European Championship semi-final in 2016.
His ability to transform and cultivate the Wales players during that successful European campaign earned Coleman significant praise.
COLE OF DUTY Coleman to be confirmed new Sunderland manager after quitting Wales job following six years in charge
The like of which he hadn’t achieved during his relatively unsuccessful stints much earlier in his career as a club manager with the likes of Coventry and Real Sociadad.
But now he faces an even bigger task, one which has seemingly become the most unwanted job in football – the opportunity to become the man that will attempt to steer Sunderland away from the brink of oblivion.
I’m not an idiot – I understand the issues that Sunderland face currently.
I know that for Coleman to succeed at our club he needs to be given the time and resources to mould this team in the shape which he believes can amount to being more than just cannon fodder for the rest of the sides in this division.
The most important aspect of what the now former Wales boss can bring to Sunderland is his infectious personality, enthusiasm and self-belief.
For too long now Sunderland’s players have been allowed to manage themselves at this club and the poor souls that have previously been charged with tasking them have sharp discovered just how difficult it is to remove what is a deep-rooted cultural issue at Sunderland.
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Coleman has to come in to this role wide-eyed and ready for a whole load of rubbish coming his way.
And, on top of that, we need him to immediately give us an indication that he has some semblance of a plan, one that will see us develop an ethos, a style of play that will stand us in good stead from both a tactical and recruitment standpoint.
Coleman has an immense job on his hands, and good luck to him.
What I say to my fellow Sunderland supporters is to cast aside any disdain they hold for the current Sunderland owner for the time being and get behind this new manager.
Because God knows that he needs our backing if he’s going to amount to anything at this basket case of a football club.
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