The two latest names to be linked with the vacant Sunderland managerial position are Ally McCoist and Barnsley gaffer Paul Heckingbottom.
With Martin Bain officially beginning the interview stage of our manager search following the sacking of Simon Grayson, Sky Sports are reporting that former Rangers manager McCoist and current Barnsley head coach Heckingbottom feature on our list and are actively being considered.
Sitting bottom of the table with one win in the opening 16 matches, Sunderland need to get this appointment right now and back the manager properly in the January window.
Sky do however say it’s unclear if either of the two have been interviewed or invited for an interview at this stage, but it’s unlikely.
In terms of McCoist, he and Bain were at Rangers together back between 2011-14 but whether that’s the trigger for the speculation remains to be seen.
For Heckingbottom, no official approach is said to have been made to Barnsley so an interview is unlikely to have been offered in his case without permission. He remains the bookies favourite though.
