Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has been installed as the favourite to take over at Sunderland after the shock sacking of Howard Wilkinson last night.
Wilkinson was yesterday shown the door at the Stadium of Light after just 20 games in charge, of which Sunderland won just two, and the club are currently seven points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership.
McCarthy was heavily linked with the Sunderland job before Wilkinson took over in October and he has made no secret of his desire to return to club management after he resigned from the Irish job.
The former Irish boss will almost certainly name Ian Evans as his number two, a role which former Irish international and Sunderland fan favourite Niall Quinn has reportedly turned down.
McCarthy will also be linking up with several Irish internationals who played for him during his international reign. Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane were both regulars in his squads, while Phil Babb has also figured prominently under McCarthy.
Sunderland also have a large number of Irish youngsters on their books, including Thomas Butler and Sean Thornton, who have broken into the first team, plus the promising youth team duo of Richie Ryan and Cliff Byrne.
Kevin Ball will be taking charge of the Sunderland training session this morning. The former Black Cats skipper has been given temporary control until the new manager is officially announced.
Filed by Rob Wright
