SUNDERLAND have urged the Football Association to make a swift decision regarding Sam Allardyce's future after confirming he has had talks about becoming the next England boss.

Allardyce met up with the FA's three man selection panel in Cheshire yesterday for an interview about possibly succeeding Roy Hodgson.

The 61-year-old had asked for permission to leave Austria, where he was with the Sunderland squad on a pre-season training camp, to hold the discussions despite the club's claims he was returning for transfer talks.

But now it has emerged Allardyce has met up with the FA's vice-chairman David Gill, technical boss Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn to press his claims for the post, Sunderland have released a strongly worded statement demanding a quick end to the situation.

The Sunderland statement read: "The Football Association contacted Sunderland AFC to seek permission to speak with our manager as part of what was supposed to be a confidential discussion process with potential candidates for the position of England manager.

"At Sam Allardyce’s request, we agreed to this.

"Sam is very much key to our plans. After what was an extremely challenging season, we are keen to see a period of stability, both on and off the field, and we want him to remain as manager of our football club.

"The ongoing speculation over Sam’s position is extremely damaging to Sunderland AFC, particularly at this crucial time of the season and we urge the FA to respect the disruption that this process is causing and bring about a swift resolution to the matter."

Allardyce, the odds-on favourite for the post after receiving backing from high profile figures such as Sir Alex Ferguson, is yet to make a signing this summer despite plenty of attempts to land players.

Sunderland are keen to avoid a further battle against relegation and it is feared the uncertainty surrounding his future will reduce the chances of signing top targets.

The FA had planned talks with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. It is understood that they also plan to talk with other candidates, with Bournemouth's Eddie Howe, USA chief Jurgen Klinsmann and former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce tipped to be among those.