MARTIN BAIN is working behind the scenes to keep on top of the managerial recruitment process at Sunderland, despite ongoing takeover talks that could lead to Ellis Short selling up.

The Black Cats are still seriously considering Nigel Pearson and Simon Grayson for the post, after Derek McInnes opted to stay at Aberdeen rather than take on the Wearside challenge.

The Northern Echo:

Sunderland have then pressed ahead on two fronts. While attempting to fill the managerial vacancy at the Stadium of Light, there has also been real progress made in terms of a change in ownership.

At this stage Robbie Stockdale, Sunderland's first-team coach, has been asked to prepare as if he will be leading pre-season training when squad reconvene on June 29 at the Academy of Light.

And while that remains likely, Bain is still hopeful a new manager will be place before that.

Progress has been made with a German consortium interested in buying the club from the American, and it is understood they are willing to go near to his initial £90m asking price which will rise if promotion to the Premier League is sealed within the next few seasons.

The German bid is believed to be still regarded as the front-runner after further discussions since last week. There is also a serious chance a multi-national consortium led by a group of Sunderland fans can strike the deal first.

Further interest is there from two other parties, although those are only likely to seriously come into play if either of the German or the Sunderland fan-led group fail to reach an agreement.

Gabe Turner, Ben Turner and Leo Pearlman - from wealthy television production company Fulwell 73 - have teamed up with former Arsenal defender Tony Adams and ex-Chelsea chief executive Paul Smith to stake their claim.

That consortium, deemed credible and full of serious intention, is being backed in significant part by cash from the United States.

There would inevitably be a fear that new owners will want to bring in their own manager, unless something can be agreed beforehand which both the leading rival takeover groups are satisfied with.

Short is keen to sell quickly, having grown tired of facing the club’s big losses and that was before relegation to the Premier League. Sunderland made a loss after tax of £33m for the financial year to July 31, 2016, and has a net debt of £110.4m.

Sunderland have been searching for a new manager since David Moyes left following the final game of the season at Chelsea.

The uncertainty surrounding the takeover and the manager’s position at the Stadium of Light has made it impossible to press ahead with signing players. The squad is in need of a huge overhaul and the fixtures for the new Championship season will be revealed today.

Sunderland are close to agreeing a deal with Fenerbahce for Dutch midfielder Jeremain Lens. The Turkish club claim to have agreed a ‘deal in principle’ with the Black Cats after last season’s successful loan.

Italian striker Fabio Borini is also looking to exit, with Celtic among the clubs interested. He is under contract but Sunderland are keen to offload him.

Borini said: “My decision will depend from which club puts up the more stimulating, competitive and stable offer that is better suited to my personality - as a person and as a player.”