SUNDERLAND are set to appoint Alex Neil as their new manager after turning to the former Preston North End boss following a breakdown in talks with Roy Keane.

Neil is set to take over the Black Cats on a short term deal until the end of the season after successful talks with the club hierarchy took place yesterday following Keane’s rejection of the job offer on Wednesday.

Interviews were held earlier this week with Neil, Keane, Grant McCann and Sabri Lamouchi. However, Kyril Louis Dreyfus and Head of Football Kristjaan Speakman have gone with the Scotsman, who has ultimately turned out to be their second choice for the role.

The board have been keen to have a new manager in the dugout for this weekend’s League One game against AFC Wimbledon.

Neil is set to join the club with experience of gaining promotion to the Premier League having guided Norwich City to the top flight beating Middlesbrough in a Championship play-off final in 2015. He has since gone on to manage Preston North End taking over from Simon Grayson who left Deepdale to take over at Sunderland in 2017. After four years, he was sacked last season after a poor run of form with the Lilywhites.

After almost a year out of management, the former Norwich City boss is expected to take over from head coach Lee Johnson who was sacked nearly a fortnight ago. An announcement could be made later this evening.