Paul Heckingbottom has emerged as the latest candidate linked with the Sunderland vacancy.
According to a report in the Shields Gazette the Barnsley boss is in the frame after leading the Yorkshire side to promotion to The Championship and a comfortable mid table finish.
As well as leading Barnsley on an upward spiral Heckingbottom has developed and sold a number of players without threatening the development of the team.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes remains the favourite to replace fellow Scot David Moyes with chief executive Martin Bain well upto speed with McInnes.
Bain was chief executive of Rangers when McInnes was a player at Ibrox before embarking on a management career that has taken him to St Johnstone, Bristol City and Aberdeen.
Although Sunderland don’t resume pre-season training until June 29 the club is hoping to make a quick appointment in order to deal with the current squad and to start recruiting for a promotion campaign.