Alex Neil

2022 - 8 - 25

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Sky Sports"

Stoke City given permission to speak to Sunderland manager Alex ... (Sky Sports)

Stoke have been given permission to speak to Sunderland boss Alex Neil about replacing Michael ONeill who was sacked with Stoke 21st in the Championship; ...

"We're five games into the season, there's a lot of football to be played and I think it's about keeping it in perspective as well and that's what we'll try to do," he said. "Michael has worked tirelessly and with extreme professionalism, in particular in reshaping our squad and developing young players, but we feel the time is right to move in a different direction. "However, a poor run of results at the beginning of the current campaign led to fan pressure and ultimately the decision was taken by the club."

Alex Neil set to leave Sunderland for Stoke City (ChronicleLive)

The Black Cats boss has agreed terms with their Championship rivals over the managerial vacancy.

But that meant that, unlike other potential managerial targets for Stoke who were effectively priced out of contention, Neil was relatively cheap to buy out of his deal on Wearside - and the contract gave Sunderland no choice but to allow him to speak to other clubs if they made a formal approach. In the summer, Sunderland's sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said that all parties concerned were happy with the 12-month rolling deal, and as such a new long-term contract was not on the agenda. Neil has since said his goodbyes at the club's Academy of Light training base. With speculation over Neil's future building this morning, a scheduled 9am press briefing to preview tomorrow's home game against Norwich City was first delayed and then postponed until 2pm. Stoke have tried to appoint Neil before, with the Potters coming close to landing him in 2019 when he was at his previous club Preston, but on that occasion Preston handed him an improved contract and he stayed at Deepdale. [Alex Neil](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/alex-neil) has entered into discussions with Stoke City regarding their current managerial vacancy.

Norwich City: Sunderland boss Alex Neil in Stoke talks (PinkUn)

Sunderland have now confirmed former Norwich City manager Alex Neil is in talks to join Championship rivals Stoke City, on the eve of the Canaries' visit...

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Roker Roundtable: Alex Neil has swapped Sunderland for Stoke ... (Roker Report)

Despite seemingly being a perfect fit for our club, Neil has decided to leave for the Potteries. We asked our panel for their thoughts on his shock ...

The challenge will be to find a head coach who fits the squad profile and systems, and who can work within this structure. Our model was hardly a secret and as hard as this is to take right now, I don’t want the club ripping up their plans just for one person. It’s just a surreal situation and whatever happens the feel-good factor will be well and truly dented. The same people that identified him in the first place will now be looking at alternatives, and things have been going brilliantly recently, so I’m hoping we move on quickly. It is typical, and the next appointment is going to be crucial. I don’t want to start criticising individuals just yet, because we have no idea where the blame, if there is any, should lie. What a great start to his European adventure. You have to ask questions of the board and how they could allow this to happen. To seemingly chase money ahead of building a successful side is really sad, and although there may be more going on at the club than we can see, I’d say we’ve backed him well for a newly-promoted Championship side. Then we can all move on, and hopefully prove to Neil how misguided his apparent decision to leave has been. If it turns out that Neil wanted more control or to change the structure then that is on him. Unfortunately, we’ll only ever hear one side of the story.

Sunderland break silence over Alex Neil future with Stoke City talks ... (Sunderland Echo)

Sunderland say they will battle to keep him, however, it seems increasingly likely that Neil's time on Wearside is up and he will move to Championship ...

Neil was a favourite among the Sunderland fans and players alike but it seems his short spell on Wearside is now up. [Wycombe Wanderers](/topic/wycombe-wanderers) in May - signed a 12-month rolling contract when he took charge at Sunderland in February, and the issue has come under the spotlight with fans concerned he could be about to depart. Neil - who led Sunderland to the Championship with a play-off final win over “Following a formal approach by SCFC, the Club is contractually obliged to permit the Head Coach to start a dialogue with the Potters. He took training at the Academy of Light on Friday as normal and is understood to have picked the team for the visit of Neil has been given permission to speak to the Potters about the vacant position and is the clear favourite with bookmakers to take charge at the bet365 Stadium.

Stoke target Sunderland manager Alex Neil as new boss but Joey ... (talkSPORT.com)

Stoke want to speak to Sunderland boss Alex Neil about becoming their new manager.The Potters are looking for a new boss having sacked Michael O'Neill.

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Sunderland give manager Alex Neil permission to speak to Stoke ... (Daily Mail)

Neil only joined the Black Cats in February, and helped them back to the Championship at the first time of asking, beating Wycombe 2-0 in the League One ...

Michael O'Neill was sacked as Stoke manager with the club 21st in the Championship - Stoke sacked manager Michael O'Neill with the club 21st in the Championship - Sunderland have given manager Alex Neil permission to speak to Stoke City

Sunderland head coach Alex Neil in talks with Stoke over ... (Impartial Reporter)

The Black Cats insist they are committed to retaining the services of the 41-year-old Scot, who guided the club back into the Sky Bet Championship at the end of ...

A club statement said: “Sunderland AFC can confirm that Alex Neil has entered into discussions with Stoke City regarding their current managerial vacancy. Sunderland have confirmed that head coach Alex Neil is in talks with Stoke over their managerial vacancy. The Black Cats insist they are committed to retaining the services of the 41-year-old Scot, who guided the club back into the Sky Bet Championship at the end of last season, but were “contractually obliged” to allow him to speak to the Potters following Michael O’Neill’s departure.

Alex Neil poised to quit Sunderland for Stoke – leaving players ... (Telegraph.co.uk)

Scottish manager has been a big success at the north-east club since joining in February, steering them back to the Championship.

Neil was on a one-year rolling contract and was not offered contract terms that he wanted to sign. His departure could now leave Sunderland vulnerable to approaches for players such as Ross Stewart and Alex Pritchard, who are in the final year of their contracts with options to extend. Sunderland players were told about Neil's departure by sporting director Kristjaan Speakman in a team meeting after training.

Alex Neil (Sunderland AFC)

Sunderland AFC can confirm that Alex Neil has entered into discussions with Stoke City regarding their current managerial vacancy.

Alex Neil

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