Harry Redknapp has hinted he could be interested in the vacant Sunderland job as chief executive Martin Bain assesses his options after a bruising start to the Championship campaign.
Bain dispensed with the services of Simon Grayson on Tuesday night after only 15 league games and is currently engaged in the process of identifying potential successors before making his move.
The international break which follows Sunday's derby trip to Middlesbrough, for which Billy McKinlay and Robbie Stockdale will be in caretaker charge, will give the club time to make a decision.
However, with the bookmakers' odds on Grayson's replacement prompting a fever of speculation, former West Ham, Southampton and Tottenham boss Redknapp did not distance himself from the possibility.