Sunderland duo assume caretaker roles
Sunderland has handed coaching duo Billy McKinlay and Robbie Stockdale the reigns on a caretaker basis for Monday's (AEDT) Tees-Wear derby at Middlesbrough as it waits to appoint a new manager.
The Black Cats sacked Simon Grayson on Wednesday, only minutes after a home draw against bottom side Bolton Wanderers that left the club still in the relegation zone - just months on from its demotion from the Premier League.
Former Preston North End boss Grayson paid the price for a miserable run in which Sunderland has won only once in the league this season, while it is without a victory in all competitions at the Stadium of Light in 2017.
While the club is yet to appoint a new permanent manager, it has released a statement confirming that former Scotland internationals McKinlay and Stockdale - both of whom already have coaching roles on Wearside - will take temporary charge for the trip to Boro.
Stockdale briefly took a similar role in 2015 between the tenures of Dick Advocaat and Sam Allardyce.
The statement concluded: "A further announcement regarding the vacant manager's position will be made in due course."
