NIALL QUINN has backed Sam Allardyce to be Sunderland’s new head coach despite the former Newcastle United manager’s unpopularity with a large section of the Black Cats fan base.

Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton is still considering the merits of a large number of potential candidates, with an appointment not expected to be confirmed until next week at the earliest.

Sean Dyche remains a strong front runner, with Sunderland officials having considered appointing the current Burnley boss when they opted to install Gus Poyet in October 2013.

However, other options are also being considered, and Allardyce’s availability following his end-of-season departure from West Ham United has seen him strongly linked with the job in a number of different quarters.

Given Allardyce’s desire to have a strong input into transfer dealings, it is hard to see how he would fit into the current structure, which sees Congerton taking charge of recruitment affairs and reporting directly to owner Ellis Short.

In addition, the 60-year-old’s stock is hardly at its highest given that he was effectively hounded out of Upton Park by West Ham’s fans, who had grown disillusioned with the brand of football he introduced during his four years in East London.

Nevertheless, Quinn still believes Allardyce’s experience and knowhow make him the ideal candidate to succeed Dick Advocaat at the Stadium of Light, and has claimed he would be contacting the former Sunderland defender if he was still the club’s chairman.

“There are some nice candidates,” said Quinn. “Big Sam wandering around the place, maybe he is at the top of people’s lists. There are some foreign managers too.

“Looking at the betting lists, it’s quite intriguing. I think (Sunderland need) someone who can get them away from that fear that runs through the football club when they start off badly in the football season, as has happened in a good few seasons. I would certainly check out if Big Sam was interested.”

Sunderland’s recruitment process remains at a formative stage because the club’s hierarchy was clearly hoping that Advocaat could be persuaded to extend his stay on Wearside.

Instead, the Dutchman turned down the club’s offer of a new three-year deal last Thursday, a decision Quinn admits was a major blow.

“I would have loved to have seen Dick Advocaat (stay) because he really got what the club was all about,” said Quinn. “You saw the emotion he showed when they finally stayed up at Arsenal. You saw what it actually meant to him. Someone who gets it, that is the key to me.”

Advocaat has been asked to give his thoughts on both the identity of his successor and the key ingredients Sunderland need to add in the transfer market this summer.

One of his compatriots, former Spurs boss Martin Jol, was the major mover in the betting markets today, with Congerton understood to be considering a handful of overseas candidates as well as a number of domestic contenders.

Jol enjoyed a reasonably successful three-year spell in charge of Tottenham, but has been out of work since he was dismissed as Fulham boss in December 2013, with his side struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League.

PSV Eindhoven head coach Phillip Cocu has also been heavily linked with Sunderland in the last few days, but speaking in his homeland, Advocaat claimed that talk of the Black Cats being in contact with the former Barcelona midfielder was misguided.

“Sunderland have not contacted Phillip Cocu,” said Advocaat, who also dismissed suggestions the Black Cats were interested in former Stuttgart boss Armin Veh.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have confirmed online gaming company Dafabet as their new principal sponsor, with the betting site’s logo due to appear on the club’s home and away shirts from the start of next season.

“We are delighted to be entering into a partnership with Dafabet,” said Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne. “Our regional identity sits proudly at the heart of Sunderland AFC, but increasing our global footprint is also key as we look to continue to grow and strengthen the football club for the future.

“Our partnership with Dafabet will open up new markets for us, and we welcome them warmly to our Sunderland family.”