SUNDERLAND are drawing up contingency plans to ensure they are not left in the lurch if Sam Allardyce leaves to take charge of England, but could be forced to wait for at least a week before the Football Association complete their interviewing process.

Allardyce met Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain yesterday to provide an update on his discussions with the FA’s three-man panel charged with the task of appointing Roy Hodgson’s successor. He admitted to holding discussions at the home of former Manchester United chairman David Gill on Tuesday, but is understood to have stressed that he has not been given any indication about whether he will be offered the England job.

That leaves Sunderland in a difficult position as the FA intend to speak to another two or three candidates before they identify their preferred option. That process remains ongoing, and is likely to stretch into next week.

Sunderland owner Ellis Short gave Allardyce permission to speak to the FA, having first been contacted at the start of the week, but the Black Cats hierarchy are frustrated at the way in which his interview became public on Tuesday night.

They have urged the FA to complete their recruitment process as quickly as possible, and while Short remains hopeful that Allardyce will remain at the Stadium of Light, he is adamant that Sunderland’s preparations for the new campaign should not be wrecked if their manager is offered the opportunity to leave.

As a result, Bain will spend the next two days attempting to sound out potential replacements in the event that Allardyce leaves.

Former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes will be a leading candidate, partly because of his proven track record in the Premier League and partly because, as an out-of-work manager, he will be available to slip seamlessly into Allardyce’s shoes.

Moyes has figured in Sunderland’s managerial discussions on a number of occasions in the past, and having been dismissed by Spanish side Real Sociedad last November, the Scotsman is believed to be extremely keen on a move to Wearside.

Sean Dyche is another option, and like Moyes, the Burnley boss has been canvassed about the Sunderland job in the past. He enhanced his reputation by guiding Burnley to promotion last season, but prising him from Turf Moor could prove an expensive and protracted process.

Ryan Giggs’ name was mentioned in passing yesterday following his recent departure from Old Trafford, while Jurgen Klinsmann and Frank de Boer could also feature in any managerial talks.

If Allardyce leaves, Sunderland would envisage having his replacement in place within less than a week, but Short is insistent that recruitment matters should not be frozen despite the current uncertainty.

Sunderland are yet to sign a single player this summer, and Allardyce will continue to work towards potential additions despite this week’s discussions.

However, persuading players to move to a club that could be set to lose their manager will not be easy, and it is hard to imagine the likes of Diafra Sakho or Bafetimbi Gomis committing themselves to big-money moves until Allardyce’s future is determined.

Sunderland effectively admitted as much when they released a statement flagging up their unhappiness at the way in which this week’s events have unfolded.

The statement said: “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.”

The FA are expected to interview Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, with Steve Bruce, Klinsmann and Arsene Wenger also still in the running, but Allardyce is now a firm favourite and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has become the latest prominent figure to endorse his candidacy.

“The FA are linked with Big Sam, and you wouldn’t go too far wrong with him,” said Rodgers, who is still smarting from Celtic’s Champions League defeat to Gibraltar minnows Lincoln Red Imps on Tuesday. “In my meetings with him over the years, working with him, he’s a very intelligent man with a very detailed approach.

“He knows what he wants out of the game. He gets labelled a wee bit with his style of football or how he wants to play, but I haven’t seen that so much in recent years.

“West Ham played good football at times, so I think he’d be an ideal candidate for it and a good guy to rally the players.”