SUNDERLAND interim boss Mike Dodds says the club have shortlisted a number of candidates in the hunt for a new head coach but are yet to make a decision.

Sunderland's recent run of poor form has seen supporters question whether or not the club will look to hire a manager before the end of the season, with Dodds yet to win a game since returning to the dugout as interim head coach.

Nonetheless, his position at the helm remains unchanged and he told We Are Sunderland the club are taking their time mulling over a list of potential successors to Michael Beale, who left the club in mid-February after just nine weeks in charge.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman says the club accepted full responsibility for the decision to appoint Beale, which didn't work out.

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Speaking at the time of Beale's departure, Speakman said: "We are disappointed that Michael is leaving Sunderland AFC. Our desire is to improve and unfortunately that hasn’t been evident, as such we take full accountability and feel that acting decisively is in the best interests of the Club.

"This has been a difficult few months for Michael, who leaves with our best wishes for the future. Our focus is now on the players and supporting Mike Dodds in the remaining games to ensure we achieve the highest possible league finish.

"We will be updating our supporters further as and when significant developments are made.”

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Dodds was placed in interim charge of first-team duties until the end of the season, having lost four and drawn one of his five games back in charge.

"The last conversation I had was prior to the last couple of games," Dodds told our sister site We Are Sunderland. "It was that they’ve shortlisted a load of potential candidates.

"They’re going to take their time with speaking with those people. They want to make sure, obviously, they get the next appointment right. They don’t want to rush that decision.

"If they feel like they’ve got the right candidate tomorrow, then he will be in the day after tomorrow.

"If they don’t feel they’ve got the right candidate, then they’ll wait. I think that was the message a few weeks ago and that’s all I’m aware of at this point.

"I’m sure if anything changed, they’d communicate that with me. They’re really good with all that stuff.

"We’ve got two games over the Easter weekend and we’ve got to change the feel around the football club. The best way to change that is winning games of football.

Sunderland were linked with Reims boss Will Still following Tony Mowbray's departure from the Stadium of Light, but appointed Beale instead. Still has been repeatedly linked with a move to Wearside and spoke openly about wanting his next managerial position to be in England.

Former Black Cats player Dwight Yorke has also declared his interest in the role, claiming to have applied for the vacant position, while Paul Heckingbottom, Scott Parker and Steve Cooper are among the bookmakers frontrunners for the role.

At this stage, Dodds is set to remain in charge for the remainder of the campaign.