Q: Who do you think should replace Jack Ross as Sunderland manager, and why?

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Phil West says...

Now that Jack Ross has departed, bringing in the right kind of manager for a club in our position with the overriding aim of promotion and a first-class infrastructure is going to be absolutely crucial. Dispensing with Ross’s services might prove to be the easy part of this process, but selling the club as an attractive proposition to a would-be manager could be slightly more arduous. We could either go for the grizzled old-timer who knows the league inside out, or perhaps a slightly younger man, with aspirations of longer-term success.

With that in mind, and despite the many managers who will doubtless be linked with the job, the name I keep getting drawn towards is Gary Rowett.

I like his articulate nature and how passionate and intense he always seems to be, and I also think he did an admirable job at both Derby and Birmingham before departing, and during his brief tenure at Stoke, he seemed to receive something of an unfair deal.

I believe that he would have a point to prove by taking a high-profile job and that he could, given time, reshape the squad into a more attack-minded outfit. He also strikes me as the kind of hardy character for whom criticism would be easier to deal with, as opposed to the slightly more reserved personality of Jack Ross, and that is an important prerequisite for any Sunderland manager.

The season is still young, and although our league position isn’t fantastic, there is more than enough time to get things motoring and propel ourselves towards the automatic promotion spots. Rowett, despite maybe not being the most inspirational name in the mixer, could well be the right man for us at this moment in time.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Tom Albrighton says...

Daniel Stendel for me.

Look at the reaction of the Barnsley fans with his departure - it says a lot. When I saw Barnsley play in this division they had a far inferior team man for man than what was at Jack Ross’s disposal: a team that played solid, front foot football.

Neat and tidy in possession, Barnsley were always a confident side and played nice football to watch, even at their visit to the Stadium of Light, despite being behind almost all game, they still managed to play good football.

Over the season Barnsley had an identity and a manner in which they approached their business. Stendel got his side playing to a total greater than the sum of their parts and made formidable players out of average footballers.

The only worry is Stendel’s form in the division above and whilst Barnsley have failed to impress, that is also in part to their owners, who keen to sell some of their best talent, failed to provide Stendel with the chance to replace them adequately.

For me, if we want to unlock our strikers and see the best from our midfield and a manager that enjoys pacey, front-foot, ball-on-the-floor football, Stendel is the outstanding choice.

Photo by Kevin Barnes - CameraSport via Getty Images

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Matty Crichton says...

The one name that stands out for me is Roy Keane.

Our Championship triumph in 2006/07 was probably my favourite period supporting Sunderland. The man just has a relentless presence. He demands respect and commitment to the cause from each individual.

I think Keane is a born leader. We seen last time how many big name players he managed to convince to join Sunderland. We need someone who is attractive as a manager, someone who can pick up the phone to players and convince them that this is the place to be.

I think in Jack Ross we tried to get a young next best thing, it did not work as the fans had no respect for him or his CV. With Keane he has done it before and understands the football club. When I see the list of names linked he is the only one who brings excitement and a belief that we can achieve promotion.

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

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Neil Graney says...

The safer choice would be Daniel Stendel.

He has a clear, attractive football philosophy, something we have been missing for a while. The outrage from Barnsley’s fans is clear, and he did the job for them last season playing the style of football Sunderland fans have been missing under Jack Ross.

The big senseless kid in me says Roy Keane. Yes, there’d be risk attached but if he kick-started the club in the way he did first time, that would be some journey! He’s proven he can get more out of average players and I think he can do it again.

The risk being his temperament and his lack of patience with lesser players, but look at Joey Barton at Fleetwood, he’s working wonders and was perceived a huge risk - the difference being that Roy Keane has won 19 major trophies and has the knowledge, respect and contacts to go with it!