O’Neill and Hughes tipped for Sunderland

Former Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill emerged yesterday as a strong favourite to replace Steve Bruce following the latter’s sacking as Sunderland manager.

Sunderland sacked Bruce on Wednesday after club chairman Ellis Short said results were “simply not good enough”.

The north-east club’s 2-1 home defeat by fellow strugglers Wigan on Saturday left Sunderland 16th in the Premier League and just two points above the relegation zone.

Bookmakers have tipped Mark Hughes as the man most likely to succeed Bruce however while O’Neill is also a hot favourite the Irishman is said to be the popular choice to take over at the Black Cats.

O’Neill has been out of the game since leaving Villa in acrimonious circumstances in August last year, but has been linked with virtually every managerial vacancy since.

He has vast experience after launching his career with Wycombe, and his spells at Norwich and Leicester won him a chance to manage Celtic before heading south of the border.

Oversees candidates Carlos Queiroz and Ronald Koeman have also been linked with the job, although Sunderland are understood to want a man with Premier League experience.

Bruce joined the Black Cats from Wigan before the 2009/10 season and struggled to win the affection of some Sunderland fans who resented his boyhood support of local rivals Newcastle United.