Steve McClaren In the past Ellis Short, Sunderland’s owner, is not thought to have been a member of the former England coach’s fan club but local betting patterns on Monday morning indicated big money was being placed on McClaren. Locally based – he currently commutes from North Yorkshire to QPR to help Harry Redknapp with coaching – McClaren understands the north east and the Premier League. Won the League Cup at Middlesbrough where he also reached the Uefa Cup final. Before that assisted Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, and later won the Dutch League with Twente. Lowlights include England, Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest but McClaren is a high calibre coach, who likes to play good passing football and would understand the mentality of Sunderland’s largely overseas squad.
Verdict: Short could do a lot worse Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Roberto Di Matteo Led Chelsea to Champions League glory after being sacked by West Bromwich Albion. Likes progressive football – although he showed a necessarily pragmatic streak at Stamford Bridge – and would appeal to Sunderland’s Italian recruitment department. But would he regard the job as too much of a potentially poisoned chalice?
Verdict: An obvious candidate but are he and Sunderland the right match right now? Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images
Gus Poyet Out of work since leaving Brighton in June, the Uruguayan was said to have been on Short’s radar when Martin O’Neill began struggling. Did well at Brighton, moulding a fine, sweet-passing team, but has no Premier League managerial experience. Was coy about the job on Monday morning, so he is clearly interested. Formerly a top player at Chelsea, whose work as Dennis Wise’s assistant at Leeds was highly regarded, but he has always made clear his preference for the south of England.
Verdict: A big name but is he the correct one? Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Tony Pulis Available after being sacked by Stoke last spring. Adept at keeping an unfashionable club in the Premier League but his long-ball tactics would not appeal to Short, Sunderland’s fans – or their 13 foreign summer imports. Would not like lack of control over transfers.
Verdict: The wrong man and Short will surely know it Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Roberto Mancini The former Manchester City manager likes to run almost as strict a ship as Paolo Di Canio. Knows Roberto De Fanti, Sunderland’s director of football, and was keen on the job before City, and before Steve Bruce moved in at the Stadium of Light. But Mancini’s wage demands would almost certainly be too high for Short and he would surely demand heavy investment in the team
Verdict: High maintenance Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images
Kevin Ball The caretaker, stepping up from his role as senior development coach working with Sunderland’s youngsters. A terrace hero when he brought central midfield abrasion galore to Peter Reid’s old Sunderland side, Ball has survived of Di Canio’s revolution and takes charge of Tuesday night’s League cup tie at home to Peterborough.
Verdict: Highly regarded at the club but won’t get it Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/Press Association Images
