Sunderland are set to open talks with Sam Allardyce as they bid to convince their top target to take the manager’s job at the Stadium of Light.
Reports also linked former Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri and Slavisa Jokanovic, who guided Watford to the Premier League last season, with the job.
Allardyce was initially reluctant to accept Short’s job offer.
Allardyce was understood to be keen on taking a break from the game, but after the club sounded out his representatives earlier this week, it became clear that he was keen on speaking to Sunderland.
“I am very pleased to welcome Sam to our football club”, Short told the club’s official website, as he tried to put a positive spin on a hard fortnight for the club amid growing criticism of his role in the high turnover of managers.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have also won three in 20, with none of them coming this season.
What’s even stranger is that they seem to recruit highly volatile managers – Paolo di Canio and Gus Poyet spring to mind – seemingly with the knowledge that it will all implode at a few stage.
Another stumbling block is that Allardyce, 61 next week, had planned to take the rest of the year off when he left West Ham in May.
Allardyce is Sunderland’s six boss in four years since Steve Bruce was sacked. The colour of shirts may change, but Allardyce’s approach is well established.
“I think being an ex-Sunderland player will give him extra motivation against Newcastle too”.
Allardyce is now in Spain but will return to England to complete the deal officially in the next few days. Unfortunately, through their first eight Premier League matches this season, Sunderland were winless and straight back on track to fighting off relegation.
The 60-year-old is contemplating signing free agent Kevin Nolan and feels the midfielder, who worked under him at Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham, could help him whip the dressing room into shape.
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But he says he jumped at the chance to rejoin the club for a third spell after discussions with owner Short.
