James Fowler is expected to continue in interim charge with Sunderland's search for a new manager set to continue into next week.
The Black Cats are searching for a replacement for Jack Ross , who was sacked on Tuesday, and while they have been , he is understood to be just one of a number of names under consideration.
In the immediate aftermath of Ross' departure, his longtime assistant Fowler was asked to take charge of Sunderland's EFL Trophy game against Grimsby Town that night, and oversee training on Wednesday and Thursday, alongside first team coach John Potter and goalkeeping coach Craig Samson.
With the international break leaving Sunderland without a fixture this weekend, the first team squad has been given Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, as had been the plan when Ross was still in charge.
They will reassemble at the Academy of Light on Monday, and Fowler is likely to be asked to continue working with the players until a new manager is announced - an appointment that is expected to take place at some stage next week, ahead of the Black Cats' trip to Adams Park to face Wycombe a week tomorrow.
If Ainsworth is the man who takes over on Wearside - and assuming he was in place before the end of next week - his first game would pit him against his former club.
