Sunderland head coach target eyed by rivals amid future uncertainty

SHEFFIELD Wednesday's in-demand boss Danny Rohl - who has interested Sunderland - is said to have been identified as a Hull City target as the Tigers look to replace Liam Rosenior.

Rohl turned heads in guiding Sheffield Wednesday to Championship safety. The 35-year-old German is admired by Sunderland, who are still assessing their options as they look to make a permanent head coach appointment, but the Wednesday boss is now also interesting Hull.

According to Hull Live, former Hamburg boss Tim Walter is the leading contender to take charge at the MKM Stadium after this week's surprise Rosenior sacking. But former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and Rohl are also in contention.

Sheffield Wednesday are desperate to keep Rohl this summer and the head coach is said to have held positive talks with owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Sunderland are also monitoring the situation with Rohl, but the fact he is under contract at Hillsborough and has made clear his desire to stay at Wednesday - providing he gets certain assurances about the club's direction moving forward - means a move to the Stadium of Light feels a long shot, at this stage.

What's not clear is whether Sunderland will take an interest in Rosenior now the highly-rated 39-year-old is available.

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As for Hull, 48-year-old Walter is favourite as things stand, with talks having taken place.

Owner Acun Ilicali's decision to sack Rosenior, who was nominated for the Championship Manager of the Year award, came as a surprise this week.

The Tigers missed out on the top six by three points. Ilicali says he ended Rosenior's solid 18-month spell at MKM Stadium because they did not see eye to eye over how the game should be played.

“It was a difference in opinions. Liam is a very good coach and will be very successful,” Ilicali told BBC Humberside.

“There are so many positive things but at the end of the day me and my team are dreaming of something for this club and there is a football style we want to see on the pitch.

“I want offensive football. I want an attacking, entertaining team. I said it from the first minute I bought this club.

“I said I would rather lose 3-2 than have a boring 0-0. If you are counting the points and draw every game 0-0 you are going to get relegated. If you lose 3-2, it means you will win another game 4-1.

“Liam has a great philosophy but there are different styles of football in the world – Liam’s direction can be successful but we want to see different things.”

Rosenior had signed a new three-year deal in December.