ROBBIE STOCKDALE will be in charge of Sunderland for the final game of the season when champions Wolves head for the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Confirmation that Stockdale, who was placed in temporary charge after Simon Grayson left in October, has been made caretaker indicates there is unlikely to be a new appointment until the season has been concluded.

Sunderland’s new owners – provided the takeover from Ellis Short is given the approval of the Football League and Football Association – are keen to get things moving swiftly so that no time is lost ahead of a summer of rebuilding.

Eastleigh owner Stewart Donald is fronting a consortium of international football investors taking over from Short and because of his links to Oxford – where he has held a ten per cent stake – the contenders to replace Chris Coleman include some with connections to the U’s.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is the favourite for the job even though he has worked wonders with the Blades over the last couple of years and has seen them narrowly miss out on a play-off spot this season.

Michael Appleton is another former Oxford boss being touted. He is assistant to Claude Puel at Leicester City, where he is contracted until 2020, but has plenty of front-line managerial experience at League One level.

Former Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy is being tipped strongly after leaving Ipswich Town recently. Other names in the frame at this stage are Jaap Stam, Kevin Phillips and Paul Cook.

But Stockdale will be the man dictating things from the dug-out against Wolves on Sunday.

LATEST ODDS:

Chris Wilder 7/4

Mick McCarthy 2/1

Michael Appleton 5/1

Jaap Stam 9/1

Kevin Phillips 12/1

Paul Cook 12/1

John O’Shea 16/1

Paul Hurst 16/1

Mark Warburton 18/1

Karl Robinson 22/1