Sam Allardyce is the early favourite to take over from Dick Advocaat at Sunderland.

The former Rangers boss quit yesterday just four months after being persuaded to delay his retirement plans for a year.

The 68-year-old Dutchman, who was parachuted in to mastermind a nine-game rescue mission at the end of the last campaign, has walked away with the club sitting in 19th place in the Barclays Premier League on three points after winning none of their opening eight fixtures following Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Ham at the Stadium of Light.

Former Black Cats defender Sam Allardyce, who has been taking a break since leaving his post at West Ham at the end of last season, figures prominently on an early list of candidates being drawn up by owner Ellis Short.

Sunderland are also considering up-and-coming managers, as they did when they appointed Paolo Di Canio and his successor Gus Poyet, with the names of Burnley's Sean Dyche, Karl Robinson of MK Dons and Burton's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink having been mentioned in dispatches.

Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is available, while there is a romantic school of thought touting Wearside goal hero Kevin Phillips as an outsider.