Tony Mowbray has revealed he has spoken to Kristjaan Speakman and the sporting director 'hugely played-down' a report linking Sunderland with Italian coach Francesco Farioli. A tweet from respected Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that 34-year-old Farioli - who was most recently coach of Turkish side Alanyaspor - was 'top of [Sunderland's] list' as the club's new head coach for next season.
Mowbray last week shrugged off the speculation that moves were afoot to replace him, saying he had seen the report but it had not 'unnerved' him and he did not know where the rumour had come from. But when asked specifically today whether he had spoken to Speakman about the rumour, Mowbray said: "Kristjaan did come into my office and have a discussion.
"It was hugely played-down, really. I said to [the media] at the time, it's irrelevant to me - it doesn't matter.
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"I wasn't stamping my feet saying 'what is going on?' I understand football clubs so, yeah.
"It was irrelevant to me. If I did have a discussion [with Speakman], it was finished in five minutes and pushed under the carpet, and let's see what the summer brings."
The speculation about Farioli came completely out of left-field, with the idea that Sunderland would make a change defying all logic given that Mowbray is under contract for another year and his team continues to surpass all expectations by challenging for a play-off place in its first year back in the Championship, while playing an attractive brand of attacking football. Farioli has a growing reputation and has been linked with a number of clubs in England, Italy, and Portugal.
There was also talk that Mowbray might be considering retiring at the end of the season but the 59-year-old quickly scotched that rumour last week. He said: "I also heard that someone had written that I was thinking of retiring - it makes me laugh, really.
"I get up before 6am every morning, I love that drive down the A19 to come here because I know I'm working with some amazing young footballers who want to get better."
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