British bookmakers have recently slashed odds on who will finally take the vacant manager's role at Championship side, Sunderland.

When The Black Cats arrived in the Championship this year, they did so amidst a flurry of speculation, with rumours running rampant as to the next man to take the helm at the club following the dramatic departure of ex-boss David Moyes.

Moyes' spell in charge was nothing short of a disaster for Sunderland, leading them to only six victories out of 38 games en route to an inevitable demotion down into the Championship.

So it didn't come as much of a surprise when the former Everton and Manchester United boss handed his notice and left the club to get themselves out of the mess he'd left them in by working their way back up to the Premier League without him.

What did surprise some, however, was the names put forward as potential candidates for the now vacant manager role.

As the days passed following the end of the season, it seemed that almost every active manager in the game had at one point been tipped for the job.

Yet thanks to some of the UK's biggest bookmakers, we can now start to get a much clearer picture of who might feasibly stand a chance of leading Sunderland next season.

At sites offering both Championship and Premier League betting online, several managers from both leagues have been put forward as serious contenders.

Here's a quick rundown of who the bookies are naming as their odds on favourites for the next Sunderland Manager.

Kevin Phillips (5/6)

The one-time Sunderland striker caused something of a stir when his name was first touted as a potential candidate to take the reigns at his former club.

Recently plying his trade as Derby County coach, Phillips quickly went from an outside bet to the overwhelming favourite, at 5/6 with William Hill and 6/4 at Sky.

Whilst he may be the most inexperienced name on the list, Philips' enduring popularity among Sunderland fans will likely see him welcomed to the club with open arms if he does indeed take the job.

Derek McInnes (5/4)

Current Aberdeen manager McInnes hit the headlines recently when it was revealed that Dennis Law had urged him not to leave his current role north of the border to become Moyes' successor.

Yet the Manchester United legend's pleas may well fall on deaf ears. The Telegraph recently reported that McInnes is indeed interested in the role, providing assurances can be made about the kind of budget he'd have to play with.

Simon Grayson (11/1)

After three seasons at Preston North End, Grayson has recently been linked with a move to a number of clubs, with both Hull and Sunderland apparently vying for his services.

That said, it isn't hard to imagine that the North West side would be eager to let their manager go after his time in charge saw the club successfully avoiding relegation and fighting their way back to the Championship after several disappointing years.

Nigel Pearson (14/1)

Pearson was in the news recently for losing out to ex-Leeds coach Garry Monk in the bid for the job of Middlesbrough manager, but that hasn't stopped his name from being included in the conversation when it comes to to the Sunderland gig.

If anything, that has only increased the speculation that the man who has been out of a job since walking out on Derby County last October could well be the man to help Sunderland fight back from the mess left behind by David Moyes.