CANDIDATES for the vacant Sunderland job have been told the next permanent manager will have to work within the club's strict transfer policy.

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball is in the driving position for the seat full-time after being told to steer Sunderland through the remaining ten games of the season before the near certainty of relegation.

The Black Cats need to win six of those just to be in with a shout of climbing out of the bottom three - even then the rivals for the drop would have to lose their matches in the mean time.

Dropping back into the Football League will lead to wage cuts at the Stadium of Light to ensure they are financially stable as they plan for life outside the top-flight for the third time in four years.

Stabilised debts at around £38m means activity in the transfer market is likely to be at a minimum during the summer, unless the new man at the helm can do some major wheeling and dealing.

McCarthy proved himself to have an eye for a bargain at Football League level, highlighted by the inexpensive signings of Dean Whitehead, Liam Lawrence and Stephen Elliott.

And in the summer, whether it is Ball or someone else who is installed, the man in charge will have to prove he can work in a similar way.

Sunderland vice-chairman John Fickling revealed as much and, although the board are actively pursuing an investor to plough some cash into the Wearside club, he is of the opinion the post will be highly sought-after.

"There is going to be a lot of interest in this job, that's for sure," said Fickling. "The new manager, as the manager of this football club has always had to do, will have to make the most of the resources he has available to him."

A lack of funding to purchase big-name players has not distracted a number of people putting their name forward for the role on a full-time basis.

Ball, the former Sunderland captain who has a special relationship with the fans, has already spoken of his desire to turn his short-term installation into a more long-term situation.

FA Cup hero Ian Porterfield, coaching South Korean side Busan Icons, is one known to have thrown his hat into the ring, while Alex McLeish and Niall Quinn remain two of the most fancied for the job.

Sunderland, although happy to admit possible targets have been bandied about, insist no list has been drawn up and that time is going to be taken to make sure the right man is appointed.

They hope the lack of millions to spend on new players - knowing McCarthy spent £10m last summer - will not affect their search.

Chief executive Peter Walker does not believe it will. He said: "Sunderland may have had a difficult and disappointing season but it still has a proud heritage and is well-regarded in football terms.

"The club is an attractive management proposition. A number of people have already approached the club to register an interest in the position. However, we will not be rushed into making a decision."

The managerial vacancy could well have proven to be a blessing for striker Andy Gray, who had looked destined to leave the club.

Gray, a £1.1m signing from Sheffield United in the summer, was available for transfer under McCarthy's reign and had been expected to leave when his Achilles problem cleared up.

Both Derby County and Burnley have been chasing the forward but a loan deal has failed to materialise while he has been on the treatment table. McCarthy had been hoping to agree a temporary deal that would have seen the player move on until the end of the season before completing a permanent transfer.

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