MARTIN BAIN has moved to reassure supporters that Sunderland are looking to make ‘the right’ appointment as soon as possible after his search for a new manager entered a third week.

The Black Cats chief executive is due to start the interview process of candidates he has on his shortlist, with Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes and former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson two of the main names under consideration.

Preston’s Simon Grayson has also been well fancied with bookmakers in the last 48 hours, although there have been denials of contact from the North Yorkshireman and the Deepdale club. Former Rangers boss and Sunderland striker Ally McCoist has seen his odds shorten too.

Bain has spent the last fortnight considering the club’s options and he has been inundated with recommendations and applicants for the role. Over the weekend he has started to make contact in different places and set up interviews.

The next phase of the search has started and Bain expects to speak to interested parties in the coming days, although he is still not putting a timescale on when he thinks he will be in a position to name David Moyes’ successor.

“The recruitment process is ongoing," said Bain. “Pre-season is an important period at any football club, so naturally we are keen to conclude things as quickly as possible, whilst being mindful of the need to make the right appointment.”

The hope remains that Sunderland would be in a position to have someone in place before the weekend. However, knowing how complicated things can be these days with agents and contracts, there will be no predictions from within the boardroom at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are well on with securing pre-season friendlies and confirmed today that they will play a friendly at Bury’s Gigg Lane on Friday, July 7 (kick-off 7.30pm). Ticket details to follow.

The players who are still under contract at the club are due to return to training on June 29, and, following an initial period of fitness testing, the first-team and under 23 squads will travel to Austria for a five-day training camp.

Bain said: “Preparations for the new season are progressing well and our full plans for pre-season are close to being finalised.

“The first team and the under-23s will spend a week together in Austria, which signals a much more joined up approach to the pre-season preparations.

"It is something that the club hasn’t done previously, so it will give the young players a great opportunity to train alongside their senior counterparts and experience the intensity required at first-team level."

There will also be a further series of domestic friendly games to be confirmed in the coming days, including a showpiece game at the Stadium of Light to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The aim, of course, will be to have the new head coach on board long before the players return for pre-season training so he can immediately get to work on forming a squad for the Championship.