The bookmakers have suspended betting on the next Sunderland boss with Steve Bruce expected to be announced as Ricky Sbragia's replacement today.

Only Victor Chandler are still offering odds on the market and they have Steve Bruce at 1/5 odds on favourite with Roberto Mancini second favourite at 7/4 following his comments yesterday.

Sunderland are expected to pay around £3 million for Bruce and Whelan is already focussing his attention on a replacement with Swansea boss Roberto Martinez and Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said to be the favourites.

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