KIM Hellberg has opened up on his discussions with Sunderland, confirming he won't be the next head coach at the Stadium of Light and claiming that the Black Cats are down to "one or two candidates" for the job.

Hellberg, a free agent after leading IFK Varnamo to a fifth-place finish in the Swedish top-flight before announcing that he was leaving the club, emerged as an early frontrunner for the Sunderland vacancy after Tony Mowbray's exit .

The 35-year-old has now confirmed he held talks with Sunderland's hierarchy but says "it will be someone else who manages the club", with Hellberg reportedly now in line to take charge of Hammarby.

Hellberg has now responded to the Hammarby links and lifted the lid on his talks with the Black Cats, telling media in Scandinavia: “I saw it (the Hammarby reports). There have been many things. I was probably the favourite in Sunderland for a while too.

"That’s how this industry works. There is often some kind of truth in most things that are written when it is written that way, but the honest answer is that I haven’t signed anything (with Hammarby)

“Nothing is set in stone, but hopefully we’re getting closer to a point where something will be. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it can swing in all sort of directions.”

On his talks with Sunderland, Hellberg said: “Again, we come to the scouting and that Sunderland have come across my name and that there has been contact and meetings. I hardly know how close it has been, but there have been meetings and it’s been fun and interesting to have been part of the process.”

“As I understand it, they were down to one or two candidates to choose from. It was getting close. It feels like I was there for quite a while, but it will be someone else who manages that club.

“But it was a great experience to have been involved in the process, just as it has been to have met other clubs. It has been an educational period.”

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Will Still remains Sunderland's top target for the head coach vacancy, with the hierarchy willing to play the long game in the hope they can land their first choice candidate.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus held preliminary talks with the highly-rated Reims boss earlier this week and although those discussions were positive, it's still not clear whether the 31-year-old - who would no doubt be in contention for Premier League vacancies if and when they arise - could be tempted to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland's bosses will continue to speak to other candidates in the coming days, with Mike Dodds again set to take charge of the Black Cats against Bristol City on Saturday.

It's not out of the question at this stage that Dodds will still be in temporary charge for the Coventry City game a week on Saturday.