Martin O’Neill has emerged as Sunderland’s number one choice manager to replace the axed Steve Bruce.
The Black Cats dismissed Bruce after a poor run of form at the start of the campaign that has saw the Stadium of Light outfit win only two of their first 13 games.
Most daily newspapers are publishing the story that O’Neill is the ideal successor, and Sky Sports indicate that chairman Ellis Short has already held discussions with the former Aston Villa supremo.
Mark Hughes has also been linked to the vacant Wearside role, but it is believed that Short, and international development director Niall Quinn, would prefer the Northern Irishman as their new coach.
Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips, who now plays for Blackpool, feels O’Neill would be an excellent choice.
“Martin O’Neill would be perfect for the club and I would love to see him take the job,” Phillips told The Guardian.
“He’s got so much experience and he gets the absolute best out of his players. That’s what they need now – some organisation and some belief back. He’s been out of the game for a while and I hear he’s a Sunderland fan, so I think it would be a great acquisition.
“Mark Hughes is the other name being strongly linked and I would be happy with him as well. Sunderland have better players than they have shown this season – no way should they be in a relegation battle,” he concluded.
Sunderland are believed to want a new man in the helm as soon as possible, and it is widely expected that one of the two jobless managers will be appointed in the Bantams hotseat within the next 48 hours.
By Gareth McKnight
[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]
