GORDON Strachan has emerged as a surprise contender for Sunderland’s vacant managerial post following Roy Keane’s dramatic resignation from the Stadium of Light.

Having expressed a desire to leave Wearside in the wake of last weekend’s home defeat by Bolton, Keane confirmed his intention to quit in a text message to chairman Niall Quinn yesterday morning.

Former Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce was the bookmakers’ favourite for the position last night, after lifelong Sunderland supporter Phil Brown ruled himself out of the running.

But The Northern Echo understands Celtic boss Strachan is the Black Cats’ preferred candidate for the role, and Quinn is expected to make contact with officials of the Glasgow club in the next 48 hours to seek permission to speak to the Scotsman.

Quinn chaired a board meeting at the Stadium of Light last night following an unsuccessful 48 hours in which he had attempted to persuade Keane to renege on Saturday night’s decision to resign.

While American investor Ellis Short will be involved in the recruitment procedure, Quinn will have a major say in the identity of Keane’s successor.

Former reserves boss and first-team coach Ricky Sbragia will be in charge for tomorrow’s daunting trip to Manchester United, with assistance from Neil Bailey and Dwight Yorke.

But with the opening of the transfer window now less than a month away, Sunderland will be keen to appoint a new permanent boss before the busy Christmas period.

“We haven’t thought about that yet,” said Quinn.

“But it’s something we’ll be discussing in the next few days.

“We’ve been concentrating on the situation with Roy for the last few days, but now the identity of t h e n e x t manager is something for us to discuss.

“We’ve got an open mind. There are various components to finding someone to fill Roy’s shoes, but whatever way you look at it, it’s going to be tough.

“Roy hasn’t been sacked because we have a bad team – he’s resigning because we have a good team he feels he can’t bring any further.

“There’s a big difference there.

“And this club isn’t really about Roy Keane or Niall Quinn.

It’s about the club itself – that’s the big, big thing.”

Quinn is expected to host another board meeting in the wake of tomorrow’s game at Old Trafford, with Strachan’s name likely to play a prominent role in discussions.

The former Leeds and Manchester United midfielder has won three Scottish Premier League titles since moving to Parkhead in June 2005, and led Celtic into the group stages of the Champions League.

But, in the same way that Keane claimed he had taken Sunderland as far as he could manage, Quinn may be able to persuade Strachan that he has achieved everything that is open to him at Celtic.

The 51-year-old, who is on a one-year rolling contract, has managed in the Premier League before, with Coventry City and Southampton, and sources in Scotland claim he has previously spoken of a desire to return to the English topflight.

Like Keane, he has been mentioned as a future Manchester United manager, and Quinn will hope to persuade him that his prospects will be enhanced by a successful spell at the Stadium of Light.

Crucially, Short and the remaining members of the Drumaville consortium will be willing to provide funds for a compensation agreement with Celtic.

Allardyce’s candidature is also being considered, and the former Newcastle boss was on the three-man shortlist that led to Keane’s appointment.

Having previously been a Sunderland player, Allardyce boasts emotional links to the region. He is available, having been sacked by Newcastle in January, but his time at St James’ Park may make him an unpopular figure with the Sunderland support.

Brown would be a more popular appointment, but despite having supported Sunderland as a child, the Hull boss ruled himself out of the running within hours of Keane’s resignation.

“What’s gone on at Sunderland is Sunderland’s business and nothing to do with me,”

said Brown, who recently signed a new contract at the KC Stadium until 2011. “I’ve got to make sure that the next couple of years in Hull City’s history are proud moments for everybody in the area and that has got to be my intention, starting on Saturday.”

Brown’s desperation to sign a new contract with Hull stood in marked contrast to Keane’s reluctance to pen a new deal at the Stadium of Light, and while the timing of yesterday’s announcement was a surprise, the warning signs have been apparent for quite a while.

“We spent three days trying hard to see if we could find a solution, but when push came to shove, it was such an amicable agreement that we’re comfortable with it,” said Quinn. “It’s a disappointing day, but we respect Roy’s decision.”

Midfielder Carlos Edwards insisted Keane’s resignation came as a surprise to the players.

‘‘I went into work thinking everything was normal but it wasn’t to be,’’ Edwards last night told BBC Radio Five Live.

‘‘The players still had full confidence in him and are kind of let down in a way.

Good managers come and go and he has drawn the line where he thinks is the best time.’’ Edwards played down rumours Keane had fallen out with players, adding: ‘‘Managers are going to have runins with any players and you will find that in any club.

‘‘But to say some of the players didn’t want to play for him, I’m not going to say that.

‘‘Some players are always going to be unhappy about not playing, it’s up to the players at the end of the day to prove him wrong.’’