A number of supporters have expressed their disappointment at Roy Keane turning down the Sunderland job.
Fans had hoped Keane would reprise the role he performed on Wearside between August 2006 and December 2008, when he guided the club out of the Sky Bet Championship into the Premier League and managed to keep them there.
The former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder departed after his relationship with then owner Ellis Short soured and last managed in his own right at Ipswich in 2011, although he has coached with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and the Republic of Ireland in the meantime.
But Keane rejected the chance to return to Sunderland on Thursday, with the club now close to appointing Alex Neil as their new head coach.
One fan said he was "hugely disappointed" that Keane opted not to become manager of the Black Cats again.
Another comment read: "Not sure who the best manager would have been for Sunderland, but no doubt who would have provided the most interest and entertainment for the footballing world! Was looking forward to seeing Roy Keane in hot seat again, but sadly it wasn’t to be!"
Someone else tweeted: "Gutted about Roy Keane."
Keane was one of a series of candidates with whom the club held talks – ex-Hull manager Grant McCann was also heavily linked with the post – and he is set to get the nod to replace Lee Johnson, who was sacked in the wake of last month’s 6-0 Sky Bet League One defeat at Bolton.
Sunderland are yet to confirm Neil’s impending arrival but are expected to do so ahead of Saturday’s trip to AFC Wimbledon.
He was sacked by Preston in March last year but had previously guided Norwich to promotion to the Premier League.
The Black Cats currently lie in fourth place in the third tier, just two points adrift of the automatic promotion places, although they have played four games more than Wigan in second, with leaders Rotherham a further nine points clear.
Worryingly, they have lost each of their last three matches, the last two under interim boss Mike Dodds to bottom-of-the-table Doncaster and Cheltenham, who had not won in 11 attempts in the league.
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