Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has been linked with the Sunderland manager's job as the Black Cats look to appoint a new man at the helm.
Sunderland sacked Lee Johnson in the wake of a 6-0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers in League One over the weekend.
And they must now rush to find his successor with the games coming thick and fast in a promotion push which remains a very real possibility for the club.
McCarthy is said to be interested in a return to Sunderland.
There is said to have been some initial contact between McCarthy and Sunderland, with one suggestion being that the 62-year-old could take the reins until the end of the season.
The ex-Ireland boss previously spent three years as Sunderland manager from 2003 until 2006, leading the club to promotion to the Premier League as champions after amassing 94 points in 2005.
McCarthy is currently on the lookout for a new job having been sacked by Championship side Cardiff City in October.
Sunderland have won just one of their last five outings in League One and have dropped to third place as a result.
They trail Rotherham and Wigan who occupy first and second place respectively, and both clubs have games in hand which could extend their advantage over the Wearside club.
However, the Black Cats remain two clear of fourth-placed MK Dons having played the same number of games.
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