Dons manager Derek McInnes has emerged as the favourite to become the next Sunderland manager.
The former Rangers and West Brom player has been linked with a move away from the club following a successful campaign that saw Aberdeen finish second in the league and runners-up in two cup finals.
Bookmakers Skybet have placed McInnes at 2/7, ahead of Alan Pardew (8/1), Nigel Clough (10/1) and Simon Grayson (12/1).
PaddyPower also have him as one of their top picks with only Pardew and Clough attracting narrower odds.
It comes after Black Cats supporters backed McInnes to become their next manager. A poll in the Sunderland Echo found 58% would welcome the appointment.
The 45-year old has also been linked with the Scotland national side and Queens Park Rangers in the past.
Earlier this week, McInnes insisted he was committed to leading the Dons again next season.
He said: “We’ll be ready to go again and I’ve said often enough I love working here. I feel at home here, it’s a brilliant club and it would take something special for me to want to leave.
“The work is ongoing. For the last seven or eight months we have been trying to implement plans to get players in here. We’ve tried really hard to keep one or two but the work is constant.
“We don’t get a chance to stop and reflect as from now the focus is on recruitment.”
However, with star player Ryan Jack, Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes all looking increasingly likely to leave Pittodrie this summer, McInnes could choose to start anew rather than attempt to rebuild his Aberdeen side.
The Dons could also lose Under-20 team coach Paul Sheerin in the coming days.
He is understood to be on the short list of candidates to succeed Richie Foran as manager of Inverness Caley Thistle.