Ipswich Town are set to face competition from Sunderland for managerial targets Jack Ross and Paul Hurst.
The pair are known to be leading contenders as Marcus Evans searches for a replacement for Mick McCarthy, with Ross thought to have held talks with the Blues owner on two occasions.
Now the Daily Record are reporting that Sunderland, who are looking to replace Chris Coleman as manager following their relegation to League One, have also held talks with the St Mirren manager, who is understood to now be away on holiday.
It is set to be the start of a new era at the Stadium of Light this week, with Stewart Donald’s international consortium due to complete their takeover from American Ellis Short, with appointing a new manager their first item of business.
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Black Cats chief executive Martin Bain previously held the same role at Scottish giants Rangers, meaning he will be well aware of Ross’s exploits as he took St Mirren from the bottom of the Scottish Championship to promotion.
Sunderland are also thought to be interested in Shrewsbury boss Hurst, whose involvement in Sunday’s League One play-off final against Rotherham means neither club are in a position to speak to the 43-year-old until then.
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The Wearside club’s No 1 target was previously thought to be Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, who now looks set to sign a new deal with the Blades, while former Sunderland midfielder Alex Rae heads the betting lists.
Blues owner Evans continues to work to the timeline he set himself at the beginning of his search for a manager, with the businessman stating in an address to fans in April that he expected to appoint a new manager at the ‘end of May or beginning of June’.
Ipswich have reached out to a wide range of managers, both in and out of work, during the process, with former England midfielder Frank Lampard reported to have been interviewed for a second time on Friday.
Scott Parker and Tim Sherwood, both formerly of Tottenham, are also said to have held talks with Evans, although Shefki Kuqi and George Burley are not thought to have been interviewed despite applying for the role at their former club.
Simon Grayson, out of work since his short-term deal at Bradford ended, is another to have been contacted although talks are not thought to have gone beyond that stage.
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