Chris Sutton has warned managers thinking of taking over at Sunderland that David Moyes left for a reason, indicating the club may be up against it when it comes to earning promotion back to the top flight.
The Black Cats are searching for a new manager following their relegation from the Premier League and Moyes' subsequent departure from his post.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is currently the bookmakers' favourite to take over, while Nigel Clough, Garry Monk, Kevin Phillips, Nigel Pearson and Aitor Karanka are also in the betting market mix.
Sutton has cautioned anyone thinking about taking the job though and insists that there is a reason Moyes walked away, with the Scot feeling the resources needed to bounce straight back up to the top flight will not be there.
"I am cautious about Sunderland", Sutton said on BT Sport Facebook Live, when discussing the job and McInnes being linked with it.
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"I am not so sure that it's a great job.
"David Moyes left for a reason.
"I don't think he was [going to be] given the funds he thinks he needs to get back up.
"When you look at what happened to Aston Villa, I think they spent about £80m in the Championship, it's not an easy league to get out of.
"Therefore if you don't have the players and the funds to bring players in then it's a tough job", the former Chelsea striker added.
Sunderland are heading into a league packed full of clubs believing they should be in the Premier League, making for a tough promotion scrap.
In addition to fellow relegated clubs Hull City and Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham, Leeds United, Norwich City, Derby County, Aston Villa, Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers will all be looking to push for promotion next term, while Nottingham Forest have just been taken over.
