Mcinnes among early favourites to succeed Moyes at Sunderland
Aberdeen manager Derek Mcinnes has emerged as an early contender to succeed David Moyes at Sunderland.
Former Scotland boss Walter Smith is advising the Wearside club, who have just been relegated from the english Premier League in their search for a replacement following Moyes’ resignation on Monday.
It is understood the 69-yearold is acting as an unofficial adviser to the club’s chief executive Martin Bain, with whom he worked during his time in charge at Rangers, as he draws up a shortlist of potential candidates.
Sunderland are in no rush to make an appointment after going through no fewer than eight permanent managers since Roy Keane parted company with the club in December 2008, and four since Martin O’neill was shown the door in March 2013.
Smith’s role could indicate where the club may look for the new man, Mcinnes’ name having been mentioned in dispatches after he guided the Dons to a second-place finish in the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership behind runaway champions Celtic.
Former Black Cats striker Kevin Phillips and ex-leicester manager Nigel Pearson are also among the early favour- ites, while one-time Newcastle manager Alan Pardew could be cosidered.
Sources close to Aitor Karanka, who left Middlesbrough in March, and former Boro and Magpies boss Steve Mcclaren have played down speculation surrounding them, while Garry Monk continues to figure prominently in the betting with his current deal at Leeds due to expire next month.