Tony Mowbray has agreed in principle to take over as Sunderland's new head coach, ChronicleLive understands. The former Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, and Celtic boss quickly emerged as favourite to succeed Alex Neil over the weekend, following Neil's decision to become Stoke City's new manager - a move that was confirmed on Sunday evening.
Talks with Mowbray are believed to have progressed well over the last 24 hours and if the fine details can be worked out, the 58-year-old's appointment could be confirmed tomorrow ahead of Wednesday night's game against Rotherham United at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland were rocked on Friday by Neil's decision, revealed by ChronicleLive, to leave the Stadium of Light to take charge at Stoke after a successful six-month spell on Wearside in which he led the club to promotion from League One and then oversaw a positive start to life back in the Championship after a four-year absence.
Stoke are understood to have offered Neil a substantial increase on the salary he was earning at Sunderland, with the Black Cats unable to match that sum. Neil was absent from Sunderland's weekend home defeat against Norwich City with his assistant Martin Canning in charge instead, although Canning is now expected to follow Neil to the bet365 Stadium.
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Sunderland's search for a replacement for Neil began over the weekend and, while they are believed to have considered candidates such as Chelsea first team coach Anthony Barry and MK Dons boss Liam Manning, they are now understood to be close to confirming Mowbray as the new man in charge. Mowbray spent four-and-a-half years in charge at Blackburn before leaving this summer at the end of his contract.
He took over at Ewood Park with the club second-bottom of the Championship and while he could not save them from relegation, he led them to automatic promotion from League One the next season and under him they finished 15th in their first season back in the second tier, followed by 11th the following season, 15th in 2020-21, then to an eighth-placed finish last term after spending the majority of the season in the top six. Mowbray's managerial CV also includes winning promotion to the Premier League with West Brom in 2008.
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