Gus replacement service: Former Brighton boss hot favourite for Sunderland job

The Uruguayan is the hot favourite to replace Phil Parkinson 'who parted company' with the club on Sunday after 13 months in charge.

Poyet, 53, was in charge at the Stadium of Light five years ago and managed Sunderland in the top flight between 2013 and 2015.

Sunderland drew at Fleetwood last Friday which leaves them eighth in the table.

Parkinson's assistant Steve Parkin has also left, with first-team coach Andrew Taylor to take caretaker charge.

Their next match is at home to Burton Albion on Tuesday but an announcement on Poyet is set to happen in the next 24 hours.

After leaving Sunderland in 2015, Poyet has managed at AEK Athens, Real Betis, Shanghai Shenhua and Bordeaux.

Prior to Parkinson’s dismissal, he told the ‘Speaking Sunderland’ podcast: “Could I return? Yes, of course.”

Sunderland are in their third season at League One level.

They reached the play-off final in 2018-19 but were beaten by Charlton.

The Black Cats narrowly missed out on the top six last season as their campaign was cut short because of coronavirus and decided via points per game.