Tony Mowbray has emerged as the leading contender to replaced 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 tro take over at the bet365 Stadium.
The Scot was at Ewood Park this afternoon to watch the Potters in action against Blackburn Rovers and it is thought that his departure from Sunderland and appointment at Stoke could be officially announced later this evening. That leaves Sunderland looking for a replacement for Neil, just six months after he arrived on Wearside.
Mowbray, who left Blackburn in the summer, has been heavily linked with Sunderland, with Sky Sports Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling going so far this afternoon as to say that the 58-year-old will get the job. Mowbray may ultimately be installed as Neil's successor but ChronicleLive understands that, as yet, nothing has been agreed between Sunderland and the former Middlesbrough defender.
READ MORE: Skipper Corry Evans reacts to Alex Neil's impending exit, and Sunderland's defeat against Norwich
The Black Cats have let it be known that 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 this lunchtime, with assistant head coach Martin Canning overseeing the team 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, and he won promotion from League One to the Championship with Blackburn in 2018.
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