Roy Keane will NOT be the next Sunderland manager - after turning the job down.
The Manchester United and Ireland legend held further talks with the Wearside club on Wednesday, but is no longer under consideration.
Grant McCann, Alex Neil and Sabri Lamouchi remain on Sunderland’s short list after being interviewed.
The club, mired in a bad run of form including losing to Cheltenham on Tuesday, want to make an appointment before Saturday’s trip to Wimbledon.
Keane has hoped he would galvanise the club but has been left unconvinced that he could have a uniting impact.
He is also on a big money punditry deal with Sky Sports that is up for renewal.
There were question marks over how Sunderland would bust their current pay structure to match the kind of contract Keane would need to get back into the dug-out.
Keane manager Sunderland, with Niall Quinn as chairman between 2006 and 2008 lifting them from bottom of the Championship to promotion and then survival in the top flight.
He quit after clashed with owner Ellis Short.
He was the popular fans choice to jolt Sunderland towards promotion from League One at the fourth attempt, following Lee Johnson’s sacking.
Sunderland recently lost 6-0 to Bolton, and 2-1 at home to Doncaster last weekend, with their hopes of a top two finish fading and a play off bid now more likely.
