Sunderland AFC manager hunt RECAP: Roy Keane and Alex Neil latest news as Cats continue head coach search following Lee Johnson sacking

When is Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland?

Sunderland take on Cheltenham Town on Tuesday, February 8 at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium

Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm.

What TV channel is Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland on?

The clash between Sunderland and Cheltenham won’t be shown on television and has not been selected for broadcast by Sky Sports, BT Sports or Amazon Prime.

Can I stream Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland online?

Sunderland’s clash with Cheltenham won’t be streamed via club channels in the United Kingdom.

In line with supporters’ return to stadia and EFL regulations, eligibility groups for live video streaming have changed.

Non-televised Saturday 3pm KOs and Friday/Sunday games will only be shown outside of the UK and Ireland.

Are there any other ways I can follow Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland?

BBC Radio Newcastle will provide full match commentary.

Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett will be available on the following frequencies: 95.4FM, 96FM, 103.7FM, 104.4FM and 1458AM.

The Sunderland Echo will also have full coverage on our website with Joe Nicholson and Phil Smith at the ground.

Are there any tickets available for Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland?

There are no tickets for the game between Sunderland and Cheltenham Town currently available on safc.com as the away end has sold out for the League One fixture.

Is there any team news ahead of Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland?

Luke O’Nien is also out with a shoulder injury whilst Jordan Willis and Aiden McGeady are out.

However, before his sacking, Lee Johnson has said that he is now ‘very confident’ that Nathan Broadhead will play again for Sunderland this season.

Broadhead suffered a serious hamstring injury at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December 2021.

But it was deemed surgery was not required the Black Cats were left hopeful that his lay-off would be around three months, rather than the rest of the season.

New Sunderland signings jay Matete and Jermain Defoe could be in line to start after making their debuts off the bench against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

What are the odds for Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland?

Odds provided by Oddspedia:

Sunderland win – 11/10

Draw – 139/50

Cheltenham win – 14/5

Who is the referee for Cheltenham Town vs Sunderland?

Referee: Darren Drysdale Linesmen: Thomas Harty and Joe ClarkFourth official: Trevor Kettle

Who will take the team as Sunderland face Cheltenham Town in League One?

Mike Dodds and Michael Proctor will remain in temporary charge of Sunderland’s first-team for the clash against Cheltenham unless a swift managerial appointment is made before Tuesday.

That, however, looks unlikely at this stage.

What is the latest on Sunderland’s injured players?

Here, we take you through everything you need to know:

Nathan Broadhead

Before his sacking, Lee Johnson has said that he was “very confident” that Nathan Broadhead will play again for Sunderland this season.

Broadhead suffered a serious hamstring injury at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December 2021.

It was deemed surgery was not required, which left the Black Cats hopeful that his lay-off would be around three months, rather than the rest of the season.

The striker has been rehabbing at parent club Everton and is set to make a return before the end of the campaign.

However, no timeframe has yet been given.

Aiden McGeady and Luke O’Nien

Luke O’Nien and Aiden McGeady are both on track in their recoveries from shoulder and knee problems respectively.

Both have been out on the grass at the Academy of Light this week.

O’Nien was ruled out for three months in late November, while McGeady was ruled out for a similar timeframe around the same time.

Johnson, before his departure, stated that O’Nien could be back playing sooner than McGeady owing to the midfielder’s fitness and an on-going problem with the attacker’s medial ligament.

Lee Burge

Lee Burge is facing an extended absence from Sunderland action as the club continue to monitor his recent heart issues.

Burge underwent blood tests in the aftermath of his positive COVID-19 test at the end of January, the results of which raised some concerns.

As a result, the 29-year-old is facing a period of rest of around a month, after which he will undergo another round of tests.

Sunderland are confident that the issue identified will clear at that point, and that the goalkeeper will make a full recovery

Bailey Wright

Bailey Wright is closing in on a return, but with Kristjaan Speakman saying on Wednesday that he is a week to ten days away fitness, he is a major doubt for both of the next two games.

Arbenit Xhemajli

Mike Dodds praised Xhemajli for being ‘a proper pro’ post-Doncaster Rovers as he waits for an opportunity in the first team.

Dodds confirmed that it was merely a tactical decision to omit the defender from his squad against Rovers and not down to injury.

“We decided not to include Arby based on the fact that we had Trai, who is a defender, on the bench and that we had the shape-change with Winchester in mind,” Dodds said.

“We didn’t feel that we needed another defender on the bench.

“Arby has been magnificent, he has been working with me with the U23s and he has been a proper pro.”

Jordan Willis

A recent ‘failed operation’ has resulted in Jordan Willis’ patella tendon snapping for a second time.

The defender initially suffered the set back last April.

Since then, Willis hasn’t been seen in a Sunderland shirt but has been keeping busy at the Academy of Light.

That’s after he was handed some analysis and scouting responsibilities by ex-head coach Lee Johnson.

Ex-Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi is a contender for the Sunderland job.

That’s according to The Times.

The 50-year-old was most recently the manager of Qatari side Al-Duhail.

The Frenchman departed Nottingham Forest in 2020 after replacing former Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill at the City Ground.

Ex-Norwich City and Preston North End boss Alex Neil has remained coy when quizzed over links to the Sunderland manager’s job.

Roy Keane remains the overwhelming favourite to be named the new boss, with Neil, Grant McCann and Neil Warnock among the other names in the frame.

But working as a pundit over the weekend, Neil was keeping coy on the Sunderland links.

Neil told Sky Sports: “I am not quite sure. They are going through their process.

“Your name gets banded about with a lot of jobs from time to time. Things should become clearer over the next few days.”

BetVictor suspended betting on Sunderland’s next manager following Keane’s comments on ITV last Friday.

When asked about the job on TV, Keane told ITV: “I’ve got no control over that, so no comment.

“I’ve made that clear over the last few years I’d like to go back into as a manager but of course a club has to want you, you have to want that club and just as important the contract has got to be right so we see how things take shapes over the next few days.”

It is understood, however, that Keane is not the only candidate for the job.

Indeed, Kristjaan Speakman has insisted that Sunderland are not rushing into appointing a replacement for Johnson.

“The difficult thing is there is a lot of speculation, you’re always going to get that at a club like Sunderland, ” Speakman said.

“At the minute, we’re going through our process and we have to be respectful to the candidates within that process, we have to be respectful that for the fans and the club we have to make the right appointment.

“At the minute we are interviewing, fact-finding on another couple of people

“You’ve got different people with different backgrounds… we are speaking to coaches directly, we are speaking to agents, solicitors who deal with these members of staff.

“It’s about trying to find the right match, you don’t want to go on hearsay or perceptions.”

Asked if the new appointment would be on a short-team deal, Speakman said discussions had not yet got that far.

“We’ll have that specific discussion once we’ve got the end of this first part of the process,” he said.

Sunderland fans – and the playing squad – are eagerly awaiting the appointment of the next manager at the Stadium of Light.

Roy Keane remains the overwhelming favourite to be named the new boss, with Alex Neil, Grant McCann and Neil Warnock among the other names in the frame.

Here’s a round-up of the current situation.

What has ex-Norwich City and Preston boss Alex Neil said?

Ex-Norwich City and Preston North End boss Alex Neil has remained coy when quizzed over links to the Sunderland manager’s job.

Working as a pundit over the weekend, Neil was keeping coy on the Sunderland links.

Neil told Sky Sports: “I am not quite sure. They are going through their process.

“Your name gets banded about with a lot of jobs from time to time. Things should become clearer over the next few days.”

The bookmakers suspended betting at the weekend

BetVictor suspended betting on Sunderland’s next manager following Keane’s comments on ITV last Friday.

When asked about the job on TV, Keane told ITV: “I’ve got no control over that, so no comment.

“I’ve made that clear over the last few years I’d like to go back into as a manager but of course a club has to want you, you have to want that club and just as important the contract has got to be right so we see how things take shapes over the next few days.”

It is understood, however, that Keane is not the only candidate for the job.

What has Sunderland AFC said about the manager search?

“The difficult thing is there is a lot of speculation, you’re always going to get that at a club like Sunderland, ” Speakman said.

“At the minute, we’re going through our process and we have to be respectful to the candidates within that process, we have to be respectful that for the fans and the club we have to make the right appointment.

“At the minute we are interviewing, fact-finding on another couple of people

“You’ve got different people with different backgrounds… we are speaking to coaches directly, we are speaking to agents, solicitors who deal with these members of staff.

“It’s about trying to find the right match, you don’t want to go on hearsay or perceptions.”

Asked if the new appointment would be on a short-team deal, Speakman said discussions had not yet got that far.

“We’ll have that specific discussion once we’ve got the end of this first part of the process,” he said.

What has interim manager Mike Dodds said about his position?

Mike Dodds says he is working ‘day-to-day’ and does not yet know if he will take charge for Tuesday night’s game against Cheltenham.

“I’m literally working day-to-day,” Dodds said on Saturday evening after defeat to Doncaster Rovers.

“It’s a massive privilege for me to represent this football club.

“I hope they do get someone in but if I’m needed then I will do this job to the best of my ability.

“Like I said to the players on Monday, it’s not about me, it’s about giving them the best platform to perform.

“That hasn’t happened, so I’m going to have to reflect on why that is.

“We’ll be back in tomorrow and making sure the preparation is as good as it possibly can be,” he added.

“Let’s not shy away from the facts, a club of this size should not lose three games on the bounce regardless of what division it’s in.”

What is the mood in the dressing room after Doncaster defeat?

“It’s frustrating more than anything,” Carl Winchester told the Echo following the Doncaster defeat. “We can’t go 2-0 down, no disrespect, to a team bottom of the league.

“We just need to get together and then focus on Tuesday, it’s a massive game Tuesday.

“The crowd were unbelievable, 38,000, fair play to them, they’ve worked hard all week to come here and it’s up to us to put a performance on.

“It just wasn’t there, we’re sorry that we let everyone down.”

He added: “It’s hard but look we have quality and know we have quality in that changing room that can win games for us.

“It’s just not working well at the minute but we have to get back to what we were doing well and focus on the next game which is massive on Tuesday.”

And analysis from the Echo’s Phil Smith

“It was a surprise then, to see Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman say before the game that the club were still finalising their shortlist for the vacant head coach position,” wrote Phil in his Sunday verdict.

“There was of course an element of expectation management here, particularly as enthusiasm and excitement grows that Roy Keane could be tempted into making a return to the club.

“He also added, though, that contract lengths had not even been discussed in depth with the current candidates.

“Doing the necessary due diligence is of course the right approach, but it jars with the assessment that the change was made primarily with the goal of promotion this season in mind.

“One game has already ticked by, and only 16 remain.

“The timeframe for a new head coach to make an impact was already tight in the extreme, and it is narrowing by the day.”