What's Régis Le Bris's long-term future at Sunderland?

Sunderland Echo

Phil Smith and BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes discuss as part of the On The Whistle live show at The Bridge Hotel Vaults, Sunderland

Transcript

00:00Question here from Dan who said, is anyone talking about the possibility of losing Labrice?

00:07We're talking a lot about keeping certain players.

00:11The thing I would say is Labrice loves it here.

00:15I mean, he absolutely loves it.

00:17I think from his perspective, he feels like he's just won the lottery.

00:21And I think there's a lot of managers who wouldn't love the way Sunland operate,

00:25love the structure, they might like a bit more influence.

00:27I think for him, the way that Sunland's set up allows him to focus on what he absolutely loves,

00:33which is nerding out over his laptop, watching the training clips, designing the training sessions.

00:39He has a big say in recruitment, let's get that right.

00:41He's got a very, very powerful voice.

00:43Obviously, Isidore and Le Fay.

00:45Enzo, what a player, man.

00:47But he's obviously had a big say in that.

00:54He's been waiting for a long time for this opportunity.

00:58He started learning English two years ago, didn't he?

01:01Waiting for the right opportunity, wanting to manage in England.

01:03I think especially because his kids are a little bit older, aren't they?

01:06So it was the right time for him to make the move.

01:08He loves it here.

01:09His dog absolutely loves it here, loves the beaches.

01:13It's true, doesn't it?

01:14He hasn't taken to calling you Enzo, has he?

01:20He absolutely loves it here.

01:23So I'm sure he's got a nice pay rise in his contract.

01:28He's got two years left.

01:30Listen, you never know, but Regis loves it here.

01:33And he loves the really interest in the history of the club, isn't he?

01:36He's really bought into that side of things.

01:39I mean, I think it's fascinating because a lot of people outside of Sunderland, I think,

01:47are going to make this sort of Arsene Wenger connection.

01:51You know, he is the next Arsene Wenger.

01:53He's come from France.

01:54He's intellectual.

01:54He's bright.

01:55He's very determined.

01:57He's very ambitious.

01:58But I think they're totally different characters.

02:01I mean, I think Regis is ambitious.

02:03I do think he wants to achieve something here.

02:05It's inevitable that if he does do well next season, he's going to make headlines.

02:12He's going to be in the spotlight.

02:15I mean, look at, you know, the manager merry-go-round at the moment is farcical.

02:20I mean, what's the average length of term of a manager?

02:24It's something like eight or nine months now, which is just staggering.

02:28I mean, look, I've covered Sunderland for 20, this is a 23rd year, and I think it's 21 managers.

02:35You just, you know, that's just not sustainable.

02:38That is just not, you know, that sort of turnover of coaches and managers is ridiculous.

02:46And you'd hope now that, like you say, Regis likes it here.

02:50The club is a fit for him.

02:54It works within the, we talked before about Kirill Louis-Dreyfus building this sort of family feel of the club.

03:01That all, it all feels right.

03:04So hopefully, you know, if he does have a successful start to the season and it goes well, then who knows?

03:11I mean, he could be here for a good few years, yeah.

03:12And I mean, what makes him tick is a little bit different to most managers as well.

03:17He's not someone who started off in management early.

03:19He's constantly thinking about his next step.

03:21He's ambitious, but he loves training.

03:24He loves coaching.

03:25So I think that as long as he has the freedom that he doesn't see him, I think he loves it.

03:29I don't think he's comfortable in the spotlight either.

03:32And to a certain extent, he's out of that here.

03:34It kind of works for him.

03:35It sort of works for him.

03:36He can quietly get on with the job that he's doing.

03:39And, you know, the world's media is not in his face.

03:41It's just that it's not happening in that respect.

03:45Because he clearly isn't comfortable in front of cameras.

03:47He doesn't like that side of it.

03:49You know, from a press conference, he likes to come in and go out.

03:52He doesn't, you know, he's not at ease, if you like, in that environment.

03:57So, you know, I think the club suits him in that respect.

04:02And even in the Premier League, I think it will still suit him in that respect.

04:05Because he won't, you know, he's not fashionable, put it that way.

04:10Okay.

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