McMenemey - Marcelino Dream Team Unlikely!

Already ruling themselves out are George Graham and John Gregory, who unsurprisingly prefer unemployment and a struggling first division club to life in Sunderland.

Former Leeds laughingstock David O’Leary is interested, but press reports suggest that the Sunderland board wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole.

Also linked are George Burley (who has relegation pedigree), Alan Curbishley (who’ll be taking somebody into the Nationwide at the end of the season), Gary Megson (if you remember him playing at St James you may think he’s a good choice), Martin O’Neill (a Sunderland fan) and famed non-Irish man manager Mick McCarthy.

With Graham and Gregory ruling themselves out McCarthy must now be favourite, especially after his less than convincing denial yesterday. After the Keane row the Yorkshireman’s relationship with the Irish press is at an all time low, so he may jump at the opportunity to manage a Premiership club for the rest of the season.

Other’s who have had odds quoted include Alan Shearer, who would undoubtedly go up even further in my estimation when he took the Mackems down, but he doesn’t look to be a good bet at 66-1.

Personally I favour the return of Lawrie McMenemy, assisted by Terry Butcher and non-playing player-coach Marcelino.

Well we can dream.