Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has backed the club’s players for revolting against Paolo di Canio and has urged owner Ellis Short not to appoint a journeyman manager as the Italian’s replacement.

Short is currently assessing his options — former Brighton boss Gus Poyet has emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite — after showing di Canio the door on Sunday evening with the dressing room in disarray.

However, while the club has been approached by a series of agents offering up candidates, Quinn is adamant the Black Cats need a man to establish a united front once again.

Quinn, who handed Roy Keane the chance to launch his managerial career at the Stadium of Light, told Talksport: “Sunderland need someone to galvanise the dressing room.

“They need someone for the senior players to really buy into and show the younger players how it’s done. They need someone charismatic to do that, someone who gives them a lift.”

Quinn criticised di Canio for publicly blaming Sunderland’s players for poor results and said his replacement must show greater loyalty to his team.

He added: “They don’t need someone who is going to go out and say: ‘I’m in a hopeless situation here, these players are no good.’ Sometimes managers try and buy themselves a bit of time by saying they have got a really tough job.

“They need a manager who believes in them, not someone who’s going to do this because it’s a journeyman type job, but someone who’s going to roll their sleeves up, be charismatic and say, ‘We’re still fighting’.”

Sunderland will take their time as they attempt to get the right man, although the jostling for position is already under way.

Former England boss Steve McClaren is among those who would be open to an approach.

However, sources close to Roberto di Matteo have indicated the Italian has some misgivings over the post, while Celtic’s Neil Lennon has already distanced himself from the speculation, as has current Watford manager Gianfranco Zola.

Zola told Sky Sports News: “Of course I am flattered that I am being considered for that, but I am really happy over here and I like what I am doing.

“My growth as a manager has been massive and so I want to fulfil this task that I have over here.”

As a result, Poyet has replaced di Matteo as the bookies’ favourite with William Hill quoting him at evens with di Matteo having slipped to 7/2, Tony Pulis at 7/1 and Zola and McClaren a further point out.