KEVIN Ball has insisted he still wants the Sunderland job - despite David O'Leary being lined up by the Niall Quinn consortium looking to take over at the Stadium of Light.

Quinn, who is leading an Irish-based consortium bidding to buy out majority shareholder and chairman Bob Murray, has ruled himself out of managing first-team affairs himself and it is believed the former Black Cats favourite is looking to install an experienced big-name boss.

The first name linked to the post was boyhood Sunderland fan Martin O'Neill, but O'Leary has now emerged as the candidate of choice for the Irish consortium.

The Aston Villa boss still lives near Harrogate and remains a personal friend of Quinn from their days at Arsenal and with the Republic of Ireland.

He has come under fire from Villa fans recently and his future in the west Midlands is far from certain.

Ball's future is also up in the air but, speaking ahead of tonight's match against Fulham, Sunderland's temporary manager was more concerned his side take their last chance to win a home league game on their disastrous return to the top flight.

The Black Cats' caretaker boss acknowledged the good of the club comes before his own personal desires. If he has to step down at the end of the season he is prepared to do so and wait until his turn comes in the future.

"I would like to be involved in the future of Sunderland Football Club," said Ball. "We don't know what will happen at the end of the season but over the course of the ten games and my whole career I have made people aware of my feelings for the club. I have always said I aspire to be a manager of this club in my own right.

"If that's to be now or in the future, I want it to happen. I have enjoyed the last eight games and I would like to think I will enjoy the next two. But if someone else comes in they will have my utmost support. Nothing would change that. I would like to say I wouldn't be disappointed but it's something I aspire to do. This has added to my resolve to be a manager, most definitely."

Ball is concentrating his energies on team affairs. If they fail to win tonight they will set another unprecedented record - added to a lowest ever points total - of being the first English top-flight football club to go through an entire season without a home win.

Fulham arrived on Wearside last month without an away victory in the Premiership but they were on their way to doing so after Brian McBride put them ahead, only for the clash to be abandoned after 22 minutes because the playing surface was deemed unplayable by referee Mike Riley. Fulham have since put that awful statistic to bed with an away victory at Manchester City, courtesy of Steed Malbranque's late winner.

If Sunderland are to avoid more unwanted records it is imperative they beat the London side and Aston Villa to avoid setting a new mark for fewest wins in a Premiership campaign, least ever wins in an English top-flight season and most losses in a Premier League campaign. The signs don't look good for Ball's side as they have never beaten Fulham in the Premier League and have not enjoyed a home League victory over them in 18 years.

But Ball who once again eulogised over the Black Cats' loyal and fanatical support, insisted nothing less than a victory will do.

"The players have to thank the fans for their support this year. The best way to do that would be to win the game," he said.

Julio Arca, Liam Lawrence and Jonathan Stead are all struggling to be fit for the clash.

Sunderland (probable): Davies; Hoyte, Breen, D Collins, McCartney, Whitehead, Miller, Leadbitter, Arca, Brown, Kyle.