STEWART DONALD will take his time in drawing up a shortlist to become the next Sunderland manager after being hit with a long list of names already expressing an interest in the job.

The Northern Echo understands the Black Cats owner is determined to take his time in his search for Jack Ross’ successor, having already been intrigued by a number of contenders who have put themselves in the frame.

It is understood the plan is to come up with a number of candidates who should be seriously considered before then whittling that down to three main men who they feel can take the club forward following on from Ross’ 16-month reign.

Donald will be looking to bring in a man who can give the Stadium of Light a lift and lead the playing staff to the next level, having seen Ross manage well without ever being able to keep Sunderland in a top two spot.

As the Echo revealed yesterday, former Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel has been quick to put his name forward for the post, as has ex-Bolton manager Phil Parkinson.

It has also emerged that Kevin Phillips, the club’s post-war record goalscorer, is keen on the job, while former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has been linked with the role. He has not been in management since leaving Belgian club Leuven in February.

Those names would suit Sunderland because none are in frontline management, so there would be no compensation involved and that would be attractive given Donald’s attempts to sell the club – which has seen a proposed deal with American investors breakdown.

Donald - aware that Wigan's Paul Cook is the bookmakers' favourite - must decide which direction to take. He can either go down the road of appointing someone to provide an immediate lift to supporters, in the ilk of a Phillips or former Sunderland boss Roy Keane (if he shows an interest).

Alternatively, the prospect of appointing someone with a track record for success in the Football League is appealing. That is where Stendel, who guided Barnsley to promotion last season playing attractive football, and Parkinson, after successes at Bolton and Bradford in recent years, have caught the eye.

Sunderland have the biggest squad in League One, even though there are question marks over aspects of the club’s recruitment drive which has left the squad short on pace and imbalanced in some areas.  When they return to action after the international break Donald expects to be nearing an appointment ahead of the trip to second-placed Wycombe, whose manager Gareth Ainsworth has also been linked with the job. The visit of Tranmere to the Stadium of Light on October 22 could be the new man’s first home game.

Ross was “gutted” – according to assistant James Fowler – to have lost the job “he loved” on Tuesday after 16 months in charge and he returned to the Academy of Light on Wednesday morning to say his farewells.

The 43-year-old was well liked around the club and the training ground, where he has worked on improving morale and the mood having taken over following back-to-back relegations from the Premier League.

Fowler backed him to make a swift return to management and backed him to get a “big job” when he spoke after Tuesday’s EFL Trophy win over Grimsby Town and he is already being linked with jobs.

Both Hearts, the club he first coached, and Hibernian are being mentioned as possible next steps for the former Hartlepool defender given the difficulties Craig Levein and Paul Heckingbottom are having in Edinburgh.

His record at Sunderland will certainly not have done him any harm having lost just seven games in his 60 league matches in charge after leaving St Mirren behind in the summer of last year.