Ellis Short, Sunderland’s owner, met his board on Monday night, 24 hours after Di Canio’s dismissal, with the hierarchy including the director of football, Roberto De Fanti, and the chief executive Margaret Byrne, identifying Poyet as their preferred choice.
Contact has been made with the former Brighton manager’s representatives and is expected to intensify during the coming days but Sunderland are well aware they will have to work hard to convince the 45-year-old his future lies on Wearside.
Poyet, an ambitious 45-year-old is out of work and therefore immediately available.
The scale of the task required to reverse the decline is large and with De Fanti having considerable autonomy in the recruitment sphere Poyet could not influence transfer policy as much as he would hope to.
De Fanti would hope to persuade Poyet that this is an opportunity to not only manage in England’s top division but unlock the club’s immense potential.
The Uruguayan, who came close to joining Reading last season, was sacked by Brighton in June, having been suspended by the club in the aftermath of the play-off semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace, and is still considering legal action against his former employers having always denied the accusations of gross misconduct levelled at him by the Championship club.
FOOTY-MAD INTRODUCE NEW EDITOR
Hi ... I'm Kev Dixon.
Sunderland season ticket holder for 16 years, and I will be the new editor on this website.
Please get in touch.
You can contact me by e-mail: Kevdixonsafc@mail.com