Roy Keane is close to a sensational return to Sunderland - with the Black Cats believed to have already held initial talks with the Manchester United legend.
Keane is Sunderland's number one choice as head coach following the sacking of Lee Johnson on Sunday.
The 50-year-old is very interested in returning to the club where he began his managerial career back in 2006, and he would be welcomed with open arms by supporters desperate for a figurehead to lead the club out of League One.
Keane remains a hugely popular figure on Wearside despite resigning from his post first time round in December 2008, and he was by far the most popular choice as the next head coach in ChronicleLive's poll, with more than 50 percent of respondents picking the Irishman.
It is still unclear exactly what stage the recruitment process has reached, with one national newspaper report claiming he has been offered the job, sources within the club insisting last that no offers have been made, and further reports this morning that Keane is due to be interviewed face-to-face.
The situation is changing rapidly but it is apparent that the direction of travel seems to be pointing towards Keane coming back to the Stadium of Light.
While Sunderland are searching for a new boss, the club yesterday confirmed that U23 coaches Mike Dodds and Michael Proctor are in temporary charge and are preparing the team for this weekend's home game against basement side Doncaster Rovers.
Sunderland run a very different structure to the one in place during Keane's first spell in charge at the Stadium of Light, with the current sporting director model meaning the club is now searching for a head coach rather than a manager.
Keane has a high-profile role as a media pundit since leaving his post as assistant to another former Sunderland manager, Martin O'Neill, at Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2019.
After leaving Sunderland, he spent 18 months in charge at Ipswich Town and then went on to work under O'Neill with the Republic of Ireland national team for five years between 2013 and 2018.
He also spent seven months combining the Ireland assistant manager's role with that as assistant to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa before eventually leaving Villa Park in November 2014 to focus on his national team role.
At Sunderland, Keane was appointed to his first managerial role in August 2006 by the Drumaville consortium under the chairmanship of his former Ireland teammate and Black Cats hero Niall Quinn.
In one of the stranger twists, Quinn briefly combined his role as chairman on Wearside with the manager's job, meaning he brought in Keane as his own replacement.
Keane signed six players on deadline day in August 2006, and led the club to promotion to the Premier League in his first season in charge.
Sunderland finished 15th under Keane in their first season back in the Premier League but in December 2008, with Sunderland sitting 18th in the table, he resigned from his role with tensions between himself and then-owner Ellis Short leading to his departure.
For the latest Sunderland news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
