A HOST of bookmakers were pulling their market on the identity of the next Sunderland manager late last night after receiving a flood of bets on Croatia boss Slaven Bilic.

Bilic has come in for sustained support since around 5pm onwards, with his odds contracting from around 25-1 to 4-5 favourite before the market was pulled.

The former West Ham centre-half has been linked with a number of Premier League positions since guiding Croatia to the finals of this year's European Championships ahead of Steve McClaren's England.

He would appeal to Sunderland's majority shareholder, Ellis Short, who is understood to prefer a continental candidate to succeed Roy Keane as the Black Cats' next permanent boss.

Ricky Sbragia will remain in his caretaker post for Sunderland's trip to Hull on Saturday, and even if Bilic is approached to be the club's next manager, it is unlikely he will be appointed before the Boxing Day home game with Sam Allardyce's Blackburn.