Mowbray now leading contender for Black Cats job

TONY Mowbray has emerged as the leading contender to replace Alex Neil as head coach at Sunderland – but no deal has been agreed as yet.

Neil is on the verge of being confirmed as Stoke City’s new boss after deciding yesterday to leave Wearside to take over at the bet365 Stadium.

The Scot was at Ewood Park yesterday afternoon to watch the Potters in action against Blackburn Rovers with an official announcement now an inevitability.

That leaves Sunderland looking for a replacement for Neil, just six months after he arrived on Wearside.

Former Boro boss Mowbray, who left Blackburn in the summer, has been heavily linked with Sunderland, with Sky Sports Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling going so far yesterday afternoon as to say that the 58-year-old will get the job.

Mowbray may ultimately be installed as Neil’s successor, but the Sunday Sun understands that, as yet, nothing has been agreed between Sunderland and the former Middlesbrough defender.

The Black Cats have let it be known they intend to go through a recruitment process, although they hope to have someone in place more quickly than they did in February when it took 13 days between the sacking of Lee Johnson and the appointment of Neil.

Sunderland started the post-neil era with a 1-0 defeat against Norwich City yesterday lunchtime, with assistant head coach Martin Canning in charge, but he is expected to leave to join Neil at Stoke.

Mowbray began his managerial career as caretaker boss at Ipswich Town and later had spells in charge of Hibernian, West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Coventry City, before taking over at Blackburn in 2017.

While at West Brom, he led the Baggies to the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League in 2008.

Published by ncjmedia Ltd (0191) 232 7500, Second Floor, INTU Eldon Square, Eldon Court, Percy Street, Newcastleupon-tyne, NE1 7JB and printed by Reach Printing Services (Teesside) Limited. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.