Hull City boss Grant McCann has emerged as one of the main contenders for the vacant managerial position at Preston North End.
The Championship club parted company with Alex Neil last week after three-and-a-half years at the club.
McCann is one of the early names to be linked with the job with his Hull side currently three points clear at the top of League 1, but he continues to divide the fanbase at the KCOM Stadium.
Sunderland have two games in hand on their promotion rivals and sit five points behind the Tigers in third place.
It's unlikely that a change will affect Hull or Sunderland's campaign this season, with Preston's Frankie McAvoy set to take charge of North End for the remainder of the season.
"Preston North End Football Club can confirm that it has today parted with the services of its Manager, Alex Neil," the club said in a statement.
"Alex joined the club in the summer of 2017 and he leaves us with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.
"It is the intention that Frankie McAvoy will take up the position of interim Head Coach and work with Steve Thompson, Mike Pollitt and Paul Gallagher in taking the team for the remaining eight games of the season."
