Lawrie McMenemy reckons Howard Wilkinson's appointment as Peter Reid's successor will not go down well immediately with Sunderland fans but claims the Black Cats may have got 'the perfect man for the job'.
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Wilkinson: The new man
(PhilCole/Allsport) |
Wilkinson, the Football Association's technical director for the last five years, was a 66-1 shot to get Reid's job and was not touted as one of the main contenders for the post, but has got the nod with former Stoke boss Steve Cotterill as his assistant.
McMenemy, who managed Sunderland from 1985-87, believes that when the news of Wilkinson's appointment sinks in the fans will come round to the idea.
'He won't be the most popular appointment,' McMenemy told Sky Sports News. 'The fans probably wanted someone a bit more flamboyant like Martin O'Neill and it won't be a dream team for them.
'Because no-one really thought about Howard they will go `oh dear' to start with. But, the more they think about it, the more they may realise that they've got a guy with bags of experience.
'He's a guy who knows what it's about at this level. He's won the title (with Leeds in 1992) and they may just find that they've got the perfect man for the job.'
Wilkinson, who was caretaker England manager following the departures of Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan, technically becomes the sixth member of the former England managers club currently employed in the Premiership - the others being Bobby Robson (Newcastle), Terry Venables (Leeds), Hoddle (Tottenham), Graham Taylor (Aston Villa) and Keegan (Manchester City)
Is Howard Wilkinson the right man for the job? Or is it a backward step for the Black Cats? Would you be excited to have Wilkinson as your club's manager? Email the newsdesk with your views.
And McMenemy added: 'Howard's appointment is a surprise. You can't say it's a step backwards for Sunderland because you cannot ignore Howard's experience. Howard is still obviously wanting the day-to-day involvement.
'He probably can't wait to get the tracksuit on again and this is what he has been waiting for - a top club in the Premiership.'
As for Cotterill's appointment as Wilkinson's assistant, McMenemy said: 'The results at Stoke haven't been startling. The fact that he is coming in as assistant sounds about right and he will have to win people over.'
Steve Dean, of the Sunderland Supporters' Association, was not overly enthusiastic about Wilkinson's appointment. He said: 'Wilkinson has a good reputation with youth development but the fans' choice would probably have been Martin O'Neill.
'Having said that until we see the results on the pitch people will want to give the new managerial team a chance. Let's see if they can change things round.
'Cotterill might turn out to be a similar type to Martin O'Neill. Cotterill has served his apprenticeship at Cheltenham while Martin served his apprenticeship at Wycombe.'
Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed, a member of the Wilkinson's championship-winning side at Leeds, said his former manager's no-nonsense approach would at least ensure Sunderland become harder to beat.
'He will get them sorted out,' Speed told Sky Sports News. 'He came in like a whirlwind and got everything organised.'
Speed said that although Wilkinson was probably not the glamour appointment
the Sunderland fans were looking for, what mattered was results on the field.
'He wasn't sexy when he joined Leeds but he was when he won the
championship,' he added.
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