PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM is the favourite to become the new Sunderland manager.
That's according to bookmakers Sky Bet, who've priced the Sheffield United boss at 3/1 to succeed Tony Mowbray, who was axed on Monday.
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Mowbray was dismissed with the Black Cats in ninth in the Championship and just one win in the last five games.
The former Blackburn, Celtic and West Brom boss had guided Sunderland to the playoffs last season, losing out to eventual winners Luton at the semi final stage.
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But he's now gone and Heckingbottom is the frontrunner to replace him,
Widespread reports on Monday suggested Heckingbottom himself was also set to be sacked by Sheffield United that same day.
That could still yet unfold - hence the odds - with the Blades last with only five points from their 14 Premier League games so far.
He worked a miracle to get the team promoted last year before losing arguably his two best players in Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye before this season - while given no money to spend.
He's 3/1 with Sky Bet to switch from the red and white stripes of Sheffield to that of Sunderland.
Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher is next at 4/1, having recently beaten Sunderland at home. They sit in 16th spot having won promotion from League One.
John Eustace (9/2) remains out of work since his Birmingham sacking and is next ahead of Nice assistant coach Julien Sable (6/1).
It's then up to double figures to find Nathan Jones at 10/1 who flopped as Southampton boss, Kevin Muscat (12/1) who was recently strongly-linked with the Rangers job and England under-21 boss Lee Carsley (12/1).
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