‘Sunderland are planning…’ – Craig Hope drops huge SAFC manager news as candidates revealed

According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Sunderland are planning a second round of manager interviews this week.

Roy Keane remains the frontrunner and negotiations with him will continue, but the journalist revealed that the likes of Grant McCann and Alex Neil are still in contention for the vacancy at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats are searching for a new permanent manager after Lee Johnson was sacked following an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in late January.

Mike Dodds took charge for Saturday’s home tie against League One’s bottom club Doncaster Rovers, but the Wearsiders fell to a 2-1 defeat.

A number of potential replacements have been lined up since Johnson’s departure, including that of former Sunderland manager Roy Keane. The Irishman was in charge at the Stadium of Light from 2006 to 2008, and has had just one first-team manager job since, with Ipswich Town between 2009 and 2011 (Transfermarkt).

According to fresh news from Hope, Sunderland are set to undertake a second round of manager interviews this week. Keane remains the favourite, and negotiations with him will continue to progress, although the likes of McCann and Neil are still in the frame for the job.

Hope took to Twitter to share the news, stating: “Sunderland are planning second interviews this week. Roy Keane remains frontrunner & negotiations continue (situation could change if agreement reached). But likes of Grant McCann & Alex Neil still in frame #safc”

On Friday night, former Manchester United captain Keane said live on ITV that he wants to return to management. He stressed that it was important that everything is right with any proposition as he was in no rush of securing a job, having not held a managerial role in 11