Two weeks ago, Sunderland parted ways with Tony Mowbray and are yet to appoint a new manager.
Stade de Reims manager Will Still and Swedish coach Kim Hellberg were identified as candidates but the two have turned down the opportunity to join the Black Cats.
Last Thursday, Still stated he wants to continue with the Ligue 1 side amid reports linking him with a move to Sunderland. He has again made his desire to stay at Reims clear and his comments are relayed by today’s Le Figaro.
At the weekend, Reims suffered a defeat against RC Lens and after the tie, the Belgian came out in defence of his players.
“The team is progressing and Reims are showing a good image. But at some point it will get boring to show beautiful images,” he said.
“We have to reward ourselves and put this kind of match in our pocket. But maybe that’s part of our learning. I will do everything to ensure Reims finishes in the top 9 and does better if the possibility exists. The club responded positively this evening; I hope that has put an end to your stories.”
The 31-year-old has also made his feelings very clear after match official François Letexier insinuated that he could be moving to England soon.
“Was it my last away match in Ligue 1? That’s what the referee told me at the end of the match. I found that funny of him. Or rather not funny at all. It wasn’t my last match at all,” Still explained.
“Unless the club fires me tomorrow, I don’t think that’s planned, I am and will be the coach of Stade de Reims for many more months or years, I hope. The referee said to me something like: ‘It will be better in England’. Something like that. I didn’t find it very appropriate. It’s uninteresting.”
Still has continued insisting that he wants to continue at Stade de Reims amid claims of interest from Sunderland, but it was also reported that his agent contacted the club and that he held personal talks with them.
