Sunderland are looking for a new manager after releasing Tony Mowbray on Monday evening.
Following the sacking of Tony Mowbray on Monday night, ex-Leeds United managers Neil Warnock and Paul Heckingbottom have been named among the early favourites to take over at Sunderland.
Warnock has been unemployed since leaving Huddersfield Town earlier this season, while Heckingbottom is widely expected to be fired as Sheffield United manager after a difficult start to the Premier League season.
Former Birmingham City manager John Eustace is the early frontrunner for the Black Cats job, while Nathan Jones has been mentioned as a possible candidate after turning down the opportunity to manage Rotherham United. Jones has also been linked with the Swansea City job following the departure of Michael Duff on Monday night.
Warnock has a strong Championship record and has received numerous promotions from the division. He saved Huddersfield from relegation last season and signed a one-year extension to his initial short-term contract before being replaced at the John Smith’s Stadium by Darren Moore. He has previously stated that he is not ready to retire, despite having managed teams in the EFL and Premier League.
However, it remains to be seen whether he can be enticed back into management at this time, as he told Sky Sports last month that he was looking for work after Christmas. “If there is another one (job) after Christmas, I will take it,” he stated. I don’t start working until February; I usually start in February! It would be nice to have a club in the middle of the table that I could try to get into the play-offs with rather than someone at the bottom of the league or second from the bottom and I just have to keep them up.”
Heckingbottom is expected to be fired by Sheffield United after their 5-0 loss to Burnley last weekend, but a quick return to management could be on the cards if the Sunderland job proves to be a good fit for all parties. Heckingbottom was in charge at Elland Road from February to June 2018, but he only won four of 16 games and was fired at the end of the 2017-18 season.
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