Big move in the next Sunderland manager odds as Gary Monk resigns from Leeds

Gary Monk has resigned as Leeds manager and shaken up the odds for next Sunderland manager almost instantly.

The 38-year-old who had been boss at Elland Road for almost a year had been widely expected to sign a new deal with Leeds. A statement released from the West Yorkshire club this lunchtime however confirms his departure:

Leeds United can confirm that we have received Garry Monk’s resignation from his role as first team manager.

We are shocked and disappointed by Garry’s decision but his resignation has been reluctantly accepted by Chairman Andrea Radrizzani.

Andrea made it clear to the media yesterday that his intention was to exercise the Club's option to extended the manager's contract for another 12 months and immediately begin negotiations for a longer term deal.

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Within minutes of the statement being released, the odds of Monk taking over at the Stadium of Light were slashed from an outside chance of 25/1 to become second favourite for the Sunderland job hovering at between 3/1 and 5/1 behind Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes.

Monk has also been linked with the vacant Middlesbrough post. Current boss Steve Agnew had been due to meet with 'Boro owner Steve Gibson this week to discuss his future. Former Leicester coach Nigel Pearson has so far headed the betting market for the next manager to take charge at the Riverside.

It has been reported that Middlesbrough had been due to formally discuss the manager's job with Pearson at some point this week.

After being relieved of his duties at Swansea in December 2015 following a run of one win in eleven games at the Welsh club, Monk has rehabilitated his image as a promising young boss with a decent season at Leeds.

The former Swansea defender had been appointed as manager at the Liberty Stadium in February 2014 and after leading the club to survival was rewarded with a three-year deal. In his first full campaign, Monk steered the Swans to eighth place in the Premier League. He was sacked after the club slumped to fifteenth in the table the following season.

Moving to Leeds, Monk has led the Elland Road outfit to a seventh-placed finish in the Championship, just outside the Play-off places. The Bedford-born coach was appointed on the 2nd June last year on a rolling one-year deal.

David Moyes resigned his position at Sunderland on Monday and owner Ellis Short indicated the club may take a little time in identifying a successor. The Black Cats chairman described the need for a "period of reflection" after the former Everton boss departed having signed a four-year deal last summer with the mission of a long-term rebuild at the Stadium of Light.

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Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is widely thought to be top of the emerging short-list to succeed Moyes with former players Kevin Phillips and Stefan Schwarz also in the running. Nigel Pearson's name has also been mentioned as has former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka.