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O'Neill set to be confirmed as Black Cats manager

Martin O'Neill won 80 of his 190 games in charge of Aston Villa © Getty Images

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Martin O'Neill is on the verge of joining Sunderland after agreeing terms on a contract to take him back into management and replace Steve Bruce at the Stadium of Light.

O'Neill, 59, met Black Cats chairman Ellis Short for a second time in an attempt to thrash out a deal after positive talks on Thursday night and it is believed that an agreement has been reached ahead of the weekend.

A source told ESPNsoccernet that O'Neill was ''on the brink'' of signing for the club and that only official confirmation was left to be announced.

The Irishman will not be taking charge of the side for the game against Wolves, with assistant Eric Black given the job as the final details are worked out.

Black told the club's official website: ''It is important that everyone is focused on the game and prepares in the right manner, so that's what we will be concentrating on today and tomorrow. Naturally it's a difficult time for everyone at the club, but we have to be professional and get on with the job in hand.''

O'Neill has been out of the game since leaving Aston Villa on less than friendly terms in August last year, but enjoys popular support in Sunderland. His name has been on the lips of the majority of supporters whenever the post has become vacant, and the Black Cats say they will be making a statement in "due course" on their new manager.

A dismal start to the season has yielded another derby defeat to Newcastle and just two victories in 13 Premier League games, the 11 points gathered leaving the Black Cats 16th in the table, only two points clear of the relegation zone.

Sunday's visit to Wolves and next weekend's clash with lowly Blackburn at the Stadium of Light will be followed by a series of more testing fixtures against Tottenham and QPR away and Everton and Manchester City at home.

Sunderland desperately need a marked upturn in fortunes to avoid heading into the new year facing a battle for top-flight survival.

Asked about O'Neill's candidacy, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson issued a ringing endorsement of his credentials and said: ''Martin has a very good track record.

''The job he did at Villa Park was excellent, he did a great job at Celtic, he won the League Cup with Leicester, so Martin has got the experience and track record to do well. If that's the job he's going to, I'm sure he will do well.''

However, Ferguson expressed his disappointment with the club's decision to dispense with Bruce's services, and suggested unreasonable pressure had been applied by fans.

He said: ''Fans just don't have the patience any longer, just see what happened to Steve Bruce up in the north east, where being a Geordie didn't help him. In that part of the world they are so passionate and committed to their football team and what happens the other side of the Wear means a lot to them.

''I think Brucie has suffered because of that, but that's the kind of supporters we have these days - no patience. He rebuilt a whole team and that requires a bit of patience from everyone, including Steve. I think Steve was realising that himself that he was going to have to wait.''

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