Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo joins bookies favourites for Sunderland job

There is a new favourite among the bookies for the managerial post at the Stadium of Light.

Ex-Leciester City and Leeds United defender and now Head Coach of Melbourne City, Patrick Kisnorbo has emerged as the 3/1 favourite to be given the Sunderland job according to Bet Victor. This moved him level with Grant McCann, who has recently been relieved of his duties at Hull City following a takeover, with Neil Warnock behind them at 4/1.

News broke in Australia yesterday, stating that an unnamed EFL club were prepared to take a risk on Kisnorbo by giving him his first job in English football after being impressed by the job he was doing in Melbourne. Ftbl.com reported :

"Sources in the UK claim the ex-Hearts, Leicester City and Leeds United defender’s A-League Men accomplishments have grabbed the attention of the unnamed club who are willing to take a calculated risk and fulfil Kisnorbo’s dream of joining Australia’s select band of overseas-based coaching pilgrims."

The piece also included a quote from Erick Mombaerts, whose CV includes a managerial stint at PSG earlier in his career before managing at Melbourne whilst Kisnorbo was working his way through the system there. Mombaerts said of Kisnorbo:

"PK has the level to coach in Europe … he knows everything about tactics and is a strong enough character."

Sunderland are seeking a manager to help them reinvigorate their automatic promotion push in the second half of the season after a poor run of form culminating in a 6-0 away loss to Bolton saw Lee Johnson sacked and meant they fell two points behind second place Wigan, despite having played three games more.