But now his resignation leaves owner Ellis Short's plans in disarray

Former Chelsea scout has been seeking to rebuild the club for 18 months

Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton has handed in his notice and is set to follow Dick Advocaat out of the Stadium of Light, Sportsmail understands.

We revealed on Friday that Advocaat will quit the club in the coming days having become disillusioned with the quality of his squad.

But Congerton’s resignation has left the Black Cats in complete disarray.

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Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton (second left) has handed in his resignation notice at the club

Congerton's decision leaves owner Ellis Short (centre) searching for a new blueprint for the entire club

The 42-year-old former Chelsea scout was the man installed by owner Ellis Short with the remit of rebuilding the football club.

But after just 18 months in the role he has decided he can no longer carry on, although it remains unclear if he will have to work a notice period.

Sources say Congerton felt his hands were tied given financial restraints in the transfer market and the fact that managers such as Gus Poyet were allowed to bring in their own players, who he felt were not good enough.

Meanwhile, we broke the news on Friday morning that Advocaat was considering his future.

The loss of Congerton, though, leaves Short searching for a new blueprint for the entire club.

On the field, the team are heading for the Championship and relegation could prove disastrous given the financial reward of being in the Premier League next season.

Sportsmail revealed on Friday that manager Dick Advocaat is set to depart, with Congerton now due to follow

Sunderland are in complete disarray, and face West Ham on Saturday afternoon without a win this season

They face West Ham United on Saturday afternoon where defeat would leave them bottom and without a win heading into the second international break.

Club sources say that a meal with Advocaat's backroom team this week had a 'farewell feel' to it for the manager and it is thought the Dutchman has already arranged for flowers to be given to some support staff.

It is the talk of the Academy of Light training ground that the Dutchman is set to leave and, while the players have not formally been told, they fully expect to have a new manager in the coming weeks.

Advocaat is set to quit as Sunderland boss even if he leads his side to victory against West Ham this weekend

Burnley boss Sean Dyche (left) and former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson are in the running to take charge

Burnley boss Sean Dyche and former Leicester City chief Nigel Pearson are two of the names in the frame.

Advocaat's press conference on Friday descended into farce when he first appeared to deny the story about him quitting, before refusing to commit his future to the club and then saying 'things can change in a day'.

He eventually walked out after questions on the subject continued.

However, he did say: 'I always think in facts. The fact is it is now Friday and I am manager of Sunderland.

Billy Jones, John O'Shea and Lee Cattermole applaud the fans after defeat against Manchester United

Sunderland owner Short could be forced to look for his fifth manager while seeing his club blueprint torn up

NO RESPITE FOR DILIGENT DICK Dick Advocaat saved Sunderland from relegation last season, winning the Tyne-Wear derby 1-0 with a Jermain Defoe goal against Newcastle in his second match on a run of 12 points from nine games. They survived on the penultimate weekend. But this season has been a flop with just two points so far — and the only win from nine matches coming against League Two Exeter City in the Capital One Cup. Advertisement

'But what will happen on Sunday, or a week after Sunday, or nine months after Sunday. Then I will tell you the real story.

'When I think it is time to do something then I will do so.' He added: 'The fact is you can be ill tomorrow. Why do you always talk about "if, if, if". The fact is I am here and tomorrow I am here.

'But what happens after that – it is the same for all managers – things can change in a day, in a week, in a month, in nine months.'

It now appears that Advocaat has had enough and, with the fear of a first relegation in 28 years of management, will return to Holland during the international break.

Advocaat enjoys a joke with compatriot Louis van Gaal prior to last week's 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford

The search for a new boss will then begin with Dyche the leading candidate having been top of their list before Advocaat's U-turn in June.

But the immediate availability of Pearson - and no compensation payment - will appeal to the club following his sacking at Leicester.