DERBY County boss John Gregory has emerged as a shock candidate to take charge at Sunderland following the sacking of Peter Reid.

Sunderland announced last night that Reid's managerial reign of seven years and seven months was at an end.

Four members of Reid's backroom staff have also gone - assistant manager Adrian Heath, former No 2 Bobby Saxton, and scouts Mike Walsh and Tony Book.

In a statement issued by the club, chairman Bob Murray pledged to move swiftly to find a replacement for Reid.

Out-of-work duo George Graham and David O'Leary immediately admitted that they would listen to any approach from the Wearsiders.

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is seen as another contender, and Celtic boss Martin O'Neill - yet to sign a new deal at Parkhead - is also being linked with the job.

But Gregory, disillusioned with life at cash-strapped Derby following relegation last season to the First Division, has made it known he would jump at the chance to move to the Stadium of Light.

The 48-year-old former England midfielder is understood to be keen to take on the challenge of managing a North-East club and has been touting himself as an eventual successor to Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United.

Gregory made his managerial name at Aston Villa where he spent four years in charge before being dismissed in February this year.

He walked straight back into a job at Derby, but has found himself in a financial strait-jacket because of the Rams' cash crisis.

Former Arsenal and Leeds boss Graham, who has been out of the game since his departure from Tottenham last year, is understood to have support among the Sunderland board.

Graham said: "I'm keen to speak to any club whose ambition matches my own.''

O'Leary, who succeeded him at Elland Road but was ousted this summer and replaced by Terry Venables after four years in charge, said: "I'm gutted for Peter, but I'm an out-of-work manager and I'm happy to talk to anyone.''

Veteran striker Niall Quinn, promoted to player-coach by Reid in the close season, is an outside bet, with the fact that he has no managerial experience counting against him.

Quinn admitted that Sunderland were "dreadful'' in what proved Reid's last match in charge, Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

They meekly surrendered again at Highbury as the Gunners established a Premiership record of 30 games unbeaten.

The Black Cats' disastrous start mirrored their miserable capitulation at Arsenal last season when they conceded two goals in the first four minutes en route to a 3-0 defeat.

Sunderland had restored a measure of pride with a 1-0 home win over Aston Villa and a 7-0 Worthington Cup second-round romp at Cambridge.

But the Wearsiders are lying 17th in the Premiership, only three points ahead of bottom club West Ham, who are next to visit the Stadium of Light a week on Saturday.

Quinn conceded that the manner of Sunday's defeat had come as a shock to the system.

"We had barely sat down at Highbury and we were a goal behind,'' he said.

"We had worked our socks off all week in training and we felt it was an opportunity to go out and play against the best players in the world, and stick our chests out after the last two results.

"We honestly thought we would give a performance against Arsenal.

"But we only just got over the opening goal and we were two down, and that was a dreadful start.

"When a goal goes in after only a minute against a team playing like they are the kings of Europe, you cannot expect to go out and achieve.

"It's hard enough anyway, without giving away sloppy goals. The only credit I can give the players is that they managed to contain it and maintain a respectable scoreline.

"We have a massive game with West Ham now - whoever tries to play that game down is telling lies, it is a huge game for us.''

Graeme Sharp, a former teammate of Reid's at Everton, rounded on the fans who hounded him.

"Peter has nothing to be ashamed of,'' he said. "The treatment he has received from some fans has been atrocious.

"But it comes to every manager. When you take a job, you know you are going to get the sack.

"The fans could only dream of being in this situation three or four years ago but, once you have had a bit of success, the expectations get a lot greater.

"Peter struggled last year, struggled at the beginning of this year. It is hard and unjust, but that's what happens.

"He will be very disappointed. He has received a lot of criticism, which is pretty harsh because he has done a fantastic job at Sunderland.

"He is leaving them in a far healthier state than when he arrived because it looked as though they were going to get relegated to the Second Division.''

Sunderland's problems have been compounded by an injury to goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who is likely to be out until the new year with a dislocated elbow.

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