SUNDERLAND will this week look to come up with a reduced shortlist from an extensive crop of candidates they believe are interested in succeeding David Moyes at the Stadium of Light.

Chief executive Martin Bain has been tasked with securing a suitable replacement to guide the club in the Championship following Moyes’ resignation, and Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes is high on the list.

But a lengthy list of other contenders for the post have emerged, with Bain serious about taking Sunderland in a different direction by appointing a manager who knows the Championship well.

McInnes, prior to his successful four years with Aberdeen, had a couple of seasons at Bristol City where he will have developed from managing in the second tier and learned from mistakes made before his sacking.

But the emergence of other names being considered is intriguing, with managers who have performed well in the Football League with lower ranked teams catching the eye of Bain.

Burton’s Nigel Clough, who turned down former club Nottingham Forest towards the end of the season to focus on keeping Championship football at the Pirelli Stadium, is under serious consideration.

He has worked wonders during two spells with Burton, even though he had mixed fortunes in between with Derby County and Sheffield United, but he clearly knows how to deliver results in the second tier.

Preston’s Simon Grayson, who has also been linked with Middlesbrough in the last couple of weeks, Leeds’ Garry Monk, former Norwich boss Alex Neil and ex-Wolves boss Paul Lambert have all caught the eye too because of their experience at Championship level.

Barnsley’s former Darlington defender Paul Heckingbottom has been discussed because of his success at Oakwell, where he recently admitted only a big job would be enough to tempt him away.

Sunderland can’t afford to dawdle for too long, with Hull City, Boro, Leeds and Wolves all seeking new managers too. Lambert has quickly been linked with Hull since leaving Molineux.

Bain – who will be reluctant to appoint someone if it means facing a hefty compensation charge - needs a new manager in place so that things can start to move on the transfer front.

Sunderland are set to lose Jermain Defoe to Bournemouth very soon and there are a number of other players who would like to leave if deals can be struck.

Bryan Oviedo, who only arrived from Everton in January with Darron Gibson in a £7.5m deal, has surprisingly emerged as one who would be keen to leave if a top-flight club comes calling.

The Costa Rican has been speaking to the media in his homeland and said: “I have a contract with Sunderland, it is a great team with a great infrastructure, the only problem was the relegation and if I have to continue well, the Championship is a great league, but I will always look for the option to remain in the Premier.

“Sunderland are a great team, although now they will be in the second division and I know they will fight to return to the first. The second is very competitive and of a high level, I think it is quite difficult, even more difficult than the Premier and if I play there, I would not look bad.”

Fabio Borini had been interesting Celtic but a move there does not seem as likely as it did a few weeks ago. He is available for £6m. There is still interest from Italian clubs, although they, like Celtic, could be reluctant to match that valuation and pay him the Premier League wage he earns on Wearside.

Finances could also prove tricky in Jeremain Lens’ attempts to leave. The Dutchman has enjoyed a good year in Turkey but Fenerbahce don’t want to match his valuation, which has opened the door for Besiktas.

And Besiktas’ president Fikrit Orman said: “We are interested in Jeremain Lens, we were interested before he even joined Fenerbahce. Lens is an excellent player. We will see, at the same time it is not a transfer we are desperate for.”