• Odds on Wales manager switching to Sunderland slashed • Coleman could use situation to strengthen position with Wales

Chris Coleman is the latest international manager interesting Sunderland after Michael O’Neill rejected their advances. As Coleman’s time with Wales approaches a critical juncture, the odds on him taking over the Championship’s bottom club were slashed on Thursday.

Yet although Sunderland would be delighted to welcome him as Simon Grayson’s successor, and some substantial bets have been placed on the former Fulham manager relocating to Wearside, there is the possibility Coleman could use the situation to strengthen his position with Wales.

Scotland and Sunderland set to vie for Northern Ireland’s Michael O’Neill Read more

He is scheduled to meet the Welsh Football Association on Friday to discuss his future in the aftermath of the failure to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

The FAW wants to retain Coleman, who came close to leaving for Hull City last year, but, in order to remain, he would first need to secure certain commitments. He is believed to be seeking new contracts for Ryland Morgans, Wales’s head of performance, and Ian Mitchell, the team’s psychologist, in addition to increased investment in youth development.

Sunderland have been encouraged by Coleman’s admission that he is keen to return to club management at some point and are making it clear they would welcome him with open arms

Following discussions conducted through intermediaries, Sunderland have accepted O’Neill is not interested in discussing their vacancy. Instead the Northern Ireland manager could be set to succeed Gordon Strachan and take charge of Scotland.

Paul Heckingbottom remains on Sunderland’s shortlist and, perhaps tellingly, refused to discuss the situation during his weekly press conference at Barnsley on Thursday. Ally McCoist, the former Rangers manager and a friend of Martin Bain, Sunderland’s chief executive, has been interviewed for the job. McCoist, who once played for the club, would relish the challenge of attempting to return Sunderland to the Premier League.

Stephen Robinson has admitted it would be a “massive honour” to manage Northern Ireland if O’Neill leaves. The Motherwell manager served as assistant to O’Neill until Euro 2016 and has since made a huge impression at Fir Park, guiding his side to the final of the Betfred Cup and up to fifth in the SPL.

Though Robinson insists he is happy at Motherwell, the 42-year-old from Lisburn admitted the chance to manage his country would be as good as it gets.

“It’s a massive honour for me [to be linked with the job],” he said before his side’s trip to Aberdeen on Saturday. “To manage your country and even be linked with that is huge.

“I take great pride in being from Northern Ireland and being part of the setup before was a massive part of things for me. It’s great but as it stands at this moment in time, I’m the Motherwell manager, I’m very much enjoying it and Michael is the manager of Northern Ireland we must not forget.”

“He hasn’t made that decision yet so at the minute nothing changes and I’m very happy at Motherwell.”