Toon Fans 'Gutted' - Monkey's Heed Says 'No' To Mackems!

Reid, currently in charge of the Thailand national team, was allegedly wrongly quoted as saying he was ready to return to Wearside, where he spent seven years during the 1990s.

Reid: "I said that in a certain amount of time I want go back to England. But I have a contract in Thailand that I want to fulfil.

"I didn't say I wanted to go back to Sunderland, sometimes in England you get mis-quoted.

"I haven't been offered the job at Sunderland and I will not take it if I am offered it. I haven't asked for the job at Sunderland.

"I have been there once and loved it, it's a great place but I am enjoying working here."

Former Toon boss Sam Allardyce remains the bookmakers' favourite, but sources on Wearside have suggested his Toon record doesn't help his cause.

And let's not forget, only last week he explained on Sky TV why he only spent one year on Mackemland, saying he and his family couldn't settle in the area.

That has not gone down too well with the Mackems!

Second favourite is Alan Curbishley who was sacked by West Ham recently.

But with American investor Ellis Short apparently taking a hands-on approach, there is a growing feeling that former Chelsea boss Avram Grant is leading a list of overseas candidates, with Martin Jol and Gerard Houllier hot on his heels.