With Gus Poyet’s position as Sunderland head coach hanging by a thread, the club are considering what to do next if he is dismissed.

Here are a number of the potential replacements understood to be under consideration:

DICK ADVOCAAT

The Northern Echo: Dick Advocaat

The bookmakers make the Dutchman a strong favourite to replace Poyet, and the out-of-work 67-year-old would almost certainly be willing to take on a short-term role until the end of the season before discussing his longer-term future in the summer.

Advocaat’s list of managerial roles at both club and international level is extensive, with his only experience of British football coming when he led Rangers between 1998 and 2002, a period that saw the Scottish club win two Premier League titles.

His last managerial role came to an end when he resigned as Serbia boss last November, and he is known to be close to Frank Arnesen, who is a trusted advisor to Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton.

GLENN HODDLE

The Northern Echo:

The former England boss has not worked in management since leaving Wolves in 2006, but his extensive experience and lofty coaching reputation make him an appealing stop-gap for a club who desperately need an instant improvement.

Renowned as one of the most astute tactical minds in the English game, Hoddle briefly worked on the coaching staff at QPR before Harry Redknapp was dismissed earlier this year.

The 57-year-old has delivered a number of recent interviews where he has spoken about his desire to get back into management, although he has previously said he would be reluctant to take on a short-term role that did not have a guarantee of a more permanent appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEVIN BALL and PAUL BRACEWELL

The Northern Echo:

If an outside candidate was unavailable, Sunderland’s board could turn to Kevin Ball for the final nine games of the season, potentially with another former Black Cat, Paul Bracewell, working alongside him.

Ball has had two previous caretaker spells in charge of the Black Cats, following Mick McCarthy and Paolo Di Canio, but his record hardly inspires confidence as he only won two of his 13 matches as temporary boss.

Bracewell is also currently on the Sunderland backroom staff in the role of development coach, and has earned a growing reputation for his coaching skills in recent seasons.

SAM ALLARDYCE

The Northern Echo:

Allardyce has long been touted as the likeliest long-term appointment at the Stadium of Light, despite the problems that would be inherent in him working in a managerial structure that would give him limited input into transfers.

His current contract at West Ham is due to expire in the summer and, as things stand, he has not signed a new deal, with his relationship with the Upton Park fans becoming increasingly fragile.

Would he be prepared to leave his mid-table position in East London now in order to take charge of a relegation fight in the final two months of the season? Possibly not, although the lure of a hefty bonus in the event of survival might be enough to tempt him if he has accepted that he will be leaving West Ham anyway in the summer.

HARRY REDKNAPP

The Northern Echo: QPR manager Harry Redknapp at Huish Park on Saturday. Photo: Harry Trump.

Out of work following his departure from QPR earlier this season, the strength of Reknapp’s personality makes him an appealing proposition to a club desperately in need of a shot in the arm.

The 68-year-old would shake things up if he was approached, but his input on the training ground has become increasingly limited and he would probably want to bring coaches with him, even if he was only appointed to the end of the campaign.

Having proved reluctant to move to the North-East in the past, when he was approached by Newcastle, would the south-coast resident be interested in a two-month stint on Wearside?