According to a report from Football League World, the race for the Sunderland managerial vacancy is a two-man battle between Roy Keane and Grant McCann. 

The lowdown

The Wearside club are searching for a permanent replacement for Lee Johnson, who was dismissed following a 6-0 rout at the hands of Bolton Wanderers in late January.

Mike Dodds took the reins on Saturday as the Black Cats were beaten at home by League One's bottom club Doncaster Rovers.

Keane was in charge at Sunderland from 2006 to 2008 but his last managerial gig at Ipswich Town ended 11 years ago. By contrast, McCann was in the Hull City dugout until being sacked by the club's new owners last month.

The latest

The report from Football League World stated that Sunderland have narrowed down their list of candidates to just Keane and McCann, with that duo being the only options to have been 'interviewed in-depth' by the Wearside club.

Although Keane is maintained to be in the 'driving seat', sources believe there is a 'good chance' that the decision comes down to wage demands, and the Irishman's are described as 'pretty substantial'.

The verdict

It seems that Keane has been the frontrunner for the Sunderland gig up to this point, but will he be willing to compromise on his demands if it means securing the job?

The former Manchester United captain reiterated live on ITV on Friday night that he wanted to return to management, but also stressed that it was 'important' for 'the contract to be right'.

In light of this latest report, it's tempting to wonder whether that comment was aimed at the Sunderland hierarchy. The implicit message from Keane may have been 'If I really am your number one choice, pay up'.

In other news, Martin O'Neill has had his say on the Sunderland managerial race