McCarthy favourite for Black Cats post

Sunderland have confirmed that they hope to appoint the new manager before Saturday's crunch game against Bolton Wanderers and McCarthy is the clear favourite, although both David O'Leary and George Burley are other contenders.

Vice chairman John Fickling said: "It is important that the new manager can improve our position in the short term.

"We know that he will need to hit the ground running."