WITH the search to find Mick McCarthy's successor underway, vice-chairman John Fickling last night insisted that the Sunderland manager's job remains one of the best in English football.

After being summoned to the Stadium of Light yesterday morning by chairman Bob Murray via a phone call on Sunday night, after the defeat to Manchester City, McCarthy was informed of his sacking.

His three-year reign was over after being unable to revive a Premiership campaign in which Sunderland have recorded 22 defeats from 28 games, won just twice and are yet to taste victory in front of their own supporters in the league.

Former Black Cats captain Kevin Ball, part of the coaching set-up on Wearside, has been asked to steer the sinking ship until the summer and it will be then they appoint a permanent replacement.

At the moment there is no specific name that the Sunderland board have in mind but they are sifting through all the possible options, determined to leave no stone unturned.

Among the early favourites to become the club's fourth manager in as many years are Rangers boss Alex McLeish, Luton's former Hartlepool manager Mike Newell and Colchester's Phil Parkinson, who has roots in the North-East.

The name of ex-Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has been put forward while the passionate Martin Allen, who led Brentford to an FA Cup victory over McCarthy's men, could be a popular choice.

Sunderland's near £40m debts, and the inevitable prospect of playing in the Football League next season, would suggest it would be difficult to attract a top name to Wearside.

But Fickling, revealing a sadness that things did not work out for the better with McCarthy, claims there will be no shortage of applicants interested in the post.

"This is a massive club and we are still one of the biggest clubs in the country without a shadow of a doubt," he said. "We have a fantastic training base, a fantastic stadium and it remains a tremendous job for someone.

"For any manager to come in to Sunderland this is a tremendous club to work for. People have enormous feelings and passion towards this club and that's why it's such a fantastic place to work.

"There will be a lot of interest in the job because everyone in football knows just what a great club this is."

Chairman Bob Murray has had to contend with calls for his own removal in recent weeks and the departure of McCarthy could well be met with even louder calls for the man at the top to walk away.

Murray has already indicated this season that he would be willing to sell up for the good of the club if someone came along and could restore the club to its former glory.

Angry supporters, who are not particularly annoyed to see McCarthy go, are questioning the timing of the decision, given that the ideal time would have been prior to Christmas when they had a break between games.

But it is understood a January board meeting in London was the time McCarthy was told performances had to show huge signs of improvement if he were to take the club on.

Instead an FA Cup exit to lower league opposition at the fourth round stage followed and a crucial defeat to fierce rivals Newcastle United contributed just as much.

Add to those further soporific displays in the Premiership - with the exception being a spirited showing against champions Chelsea - and McCarthy's time was running out.

But, with little sign of a turnaround in fortunes being on the cards, it was the board's decision to end McCarthy's days in charge, something Fickling would have preferred not to see happen.

"We have had on-going dialogue with Mick. Performances and results had to improve in the second half of the season, they didn't and this is the result," he said.

"It's very disappointing because we have always had a great relationship with Mick. It would have been good to have given him more time but sometimes things don't work out as you like them to.

"Everyone at this club spends an enormous amount of time working hard, whether it is behind the scenes or at the front for everyone to see, to get this club where we want it to be.

"I hope the supporters recognise this and give Kevin Ball all their support. We are all determined to turn this club around."

McCarthy was at the training ground yesterday morning to inform the Sunderland squad that he was no longer the manager, before clearing his desk at the Academy of Light and being wished well by the players he had under his wing.

Reserve team coach Kevin Richardson took training yesterday but it will be Ball, who made 375 appearances for the club during nine years that ended in the promotion year of 1999, who will take the reins.

There is a genuine hope Ball can bring a similar response to the Sunderland squad that Newcastle's caretaker Glenn Roeder has witnessed since taking over from Graeme Souness.

But Fickling insists Ball's appointment is until the end of the season only.

"Kevin is Sunderland through and through and a great character for the dressing room. He has been brought in for ten games and we will go from there," said Fickling, knowing Sunderland are 16 points from safety with just 30 to play for.

"We will be looking around in the meantime and taking our time to make sure we make the right appointment. It is essential and quite clear that we have look at all the options."

Read more about Sunderland here.