Former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson could be tempted by the prospect of taking over at Sunderland, although the Echo believes he would prefer a Championship post.
The Black Cats fired Phil Parkinson on Saturday after 13 months, so many false dawns and what felt like a million 1-1 draws.
And with suggestions emerging the Wearsiders want a manager in place by the time they take on Wigan Athletic in three days’ time, expect the gossip to go into overdrive during the next 72 hours or so.
Paul Cook, Daniel Stendel and Danny Cowley, three coaches who have thrived at League One level before, have all thrown their hat into the ring.
Nigel Pearson has also been linked with the vacant post at the Stadium of Light.
The Sunderland Echo, meanwhile, believes Lee Johnson is another name in the frame.
At 39, he is far and away the youngest manager linked with the Sunderland job so far – but that doesn’t mean Johnson is short of experience.
He spent four years at Bristol City, turning the Robins into play-off dark horses while masterminding a famous League Cup quarter-final victory over Manchester United in 2018.
However, an unfortunate habit of slipping into long winless runs cost a man nicknamed ‘Streaky Johnson’ by some Bristol City fans his job at Ashton Gate.
Formerly the Championship’s longest-serving manager, Johnson was sacked in July.
And while the Echo believes he would prefer a job in the second tier, the chance to turn around a club of Sunderland’s stature could tempt him to drop into the league below.
Gus Poyet, meanwhile, appears to be out of contention.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
