Chris Coleman set to be new manager of Sunderland

[bennythedip2]

Sunderland expect to appoint Wales boss Chris Coleman as their new manager within the next 48 hours.

Eighteen days after parting company with Simon Grayson, Press Association Sport understands the Black Cats have persuaded the man who guided Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 to take up the reins at the Stadium of Light.

The Football Association of Wales confirmed Coleman's departure on Friday night.

FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "We are extremely disappointed to see Chris' tenure as Wales manager come to an end.

"The FAW and Wales as a nation will be eternally grateful for the job he has done over the last six years as national team manager, from travelling the length and breadth of Wales outside of the media spotlight to talk to players and supporters, to guiding us to the semi-finals of the European Championships.

"We wish Chris the very best of luck for the future as he returns to club management, a desire for which he has always been honest and open about."

Assistant manager Kit Symons has also resigned and is expected to join Coleman at the Stadium of Light.

Former Manchester United coach Ryan Giggs is the 2/1 favourite to replace Coleman as the new manager of Wales.


Stoke boss Mark Hughes is second in that market at 4/1.

Sources on Wearside insist Coleman is the only man to have been offered a contract by Sunderland amid speculation that Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill had turned down an opportunity to manage the club.

Barnsley's Paul Heckingbottom had also been heavily linked with the Black Cats, where he was a trainee, although it emerged on Friday that he was not in consideration.

[tiredeyes]

I don't know how we've managed to get the Wales manager as our gaffer but I wish him lots of luck, he's gonna need it