MARTIN O’NEILL IS reported to have agreed terms to become the new manager at Premier League strugglers Sunderland.
O’Neill, 59, who has been out of football since resigning as Aston Villa manager at the start of the 2010/2011 season, has been lined up to replace Steve Bruce at the Stadium of Light.
Bruce became the first Premier League casualty of the season on Wednesday night when he was sacked after a run which saw Sunderland win just two games from 13 this season.
BBC Sport reports that that chairman Ellis Short met with O’Neill in London last night to discuss the role.
Although the former Leicester City and Celtic boss is understood to have agreed to take the job in principle, the final details have yet to be hammered out. Talks will resume this morning.
Assistant manager Eric Black will take charge of the team for Sunday’s trip to face Wolves in Molineux.